possible paines to keepe a cleere conscience before GOD and man O that wee could immitate this blessed Apostle that seeing we must all come vnto iudgement seeing our Bookes euen our consciences must bee opened and disclosed and wee receiue sentence of saluation or damnation according to the things written in our Bookes yea that we could labour and indeuour that no filthy sinne might blot our Bookes but that wee could keepe them cleere and faire in the sight of GOD It ought to perswade vs all aboue all things in the world to looke vnto this to keepe our Bookes faire For if our consciences doe accuse vs GOD is greater then our conscience and doth know all things Secondly seeing sentence must passe according vnto the things written in our Bookes and these be not only the grosse sinnes of the world themselues but euen the vile and vncleane thoughts of our hearts euen these must come to Iudgement then let vs all be carefull to auoide not onely the outward actions themselues but euen these vncleane thoghts of ours for euen they must come vnto Iudgement Alas men thinke thought is free that they shall neuer be arraigned for their vile and vngodly thoughts But S. Paul saith Rom. 2.1 Thoughts shall either excuse or accuse vs. And whosoeuer doth truly repent they do repent euen of their vile and vngodly thoughts for if wee had no other sins written in the Bookes of our conscience but euen our sinfull thoughts euen they were enough to condemne vs both bodie and soule for euermore Neither may we content our selues to thinke we are in good case if wee can say I am no Drunkard no Fornicator c. No looke to thy Booke that there be not so much as an idle word written there For euen they must come to Iudgement as our Sauiour saith I say vnto you That for euery idle word men shall giue an accompt at the day of Iudgement And that wee might know in particular what is written in our Books Saint Iohn saith That we shall bee iudged according to our workes So it is 2. Cor. 5.10 Wee must all appeare before the Iudgement Seate of Christ that euerie man may receiue the things which are done in his body Reuel 2.8 Mat. 25.41 Reu. 14.13 according to that hee hath done whether it be good or euil We shal be iudged and receiue reward according to our workes If thy workes be good then life glory and saluation But if thy workes be euill then death destruction and damnation Good workes although they cannot merit yet they will shew that faith that lay in the heart So when an euill man dies his euill workes goe with him his galled conscience will not leaue him neyther in life nor death Doct. Hence then we see how all men and women shall be tried at this dreadfull day euen by our workes eyther they shal be acquitted and absolued or else condemned by their workes For though no man can merit life and saluation at the handes of God by his workes yet wee must know that iudgement shal proceede at the last day according vnto mens workes If thy workes haue beene good holy iust and pure then thou shalt receiue life happinesse glorie saluation But if thy workes be found to be wicked vniust and vngodly then nothing else but death hell and damnation belongs vnto thee for them Wel what should this reach Vse Seeing we must all receiue Sentence euen according to our workes Surely it ought to moue vs aboue all things in the world to labour to abound in good workes to abound in all holy duties and graces of Gods Spirit in knowledge faith repentance loue zeale clothing feeding and lodging the poore members of Christ Iesus For according to our workes shall our reward be And though our works can merit nothing at the hands of the Iudge yet hee being a most bountifull and mercifull Sauiour hee will crowne his owne workes in vs and reward them in his mercy though we merite nothing Dost thou releeue a poore member of IESVS CHRIST Dost thou giue a cuppe of cold water to a Prophet or a Minister of the word of GOD CHRIST doth promise thee of his trueth hee will not let thee loose thy reward True it is a cuppe of cold water is a meane gift and farre from merit yet Christ saith Verily of my trueth thou shalt not loose thy reward Math. 10. O how should this perswade all of vs to labour to abound in all holie dueties to be liberall and bountifull vnto the poore members of Christ Iesus seeing our good workes though they cannot merit yet they shal be rewarded they shall not bee forgotten in the day of Iudgement they be sweet and blessed companions when al our frinds can doe vs no good they will bring endlesse peace and comfort to our Soules Againe it ought to terrifie vs all from sin from euill workes and vngodly wayes from swearing drunkennes vncleanenes and euery euill way For if wee bee full of these and these bee found written in our Bookes O then woe vnto vs when these Bookes shall come to bee opened for then nothing but death hel and damnation belongs vnto vs. Heere we see that of all wee Doctr. 2 haue and enioy in this world what shall goe with vs when we die what shall accompany thee in the graue Nay at the terrible day of Iudgement our consciences our workes and our bookes nothing else shall goe with vs. When thou diest thou shalt not take any thing in the world with thee but thy workes which be ingrauen in the booke of thy conscience Death will barre all the rest Thou canst not take thy Golde and Siluer with thee nor thy lands or liuings corne nor cattell All these must stay behinde thee at what time thou diest onely thy Conscience thy Booke thy Workes must goe with thee If they bee good Oh blessed art thou that euer thou wast borne If they be wicked filthy and vncleane Oh woe and ten thousand woes I say to thy soule for euermore O then Vse what wonderful madnesse hath bewitched the hearts and soules of almost al men and women in the world What do men desire what doe they hunger and thirst after Surely for pleasures for profit and for preferments For these they ride run night and day winter and sommer by sea and by land for these they spend all their labor wit and strength Heere is all that men desire they care for no more No accompt of Prayer in their Houses to reade to heare and to speak of the word of God no desire to attayne to Knowledge Faith and Repentance no conscience to liue in the feare of God little or no pittie to the needie members of Christ Iesus Alas they neuer thinke of these things But all their desire is for the VVorld Oh poore blinde Soules poore Soules they know not or they will not know that they must leaue al these behind them they must depart from
as for wicked and vngodly sinners that liue in sinne delight in sin that haue no part in the first resurrection their case is wofull they be subiect to the secōd that is eternall death and damnation for if ye liue after the flesh Rom. 6.8 ye shall die And therefore deceiue not your selues as many do which thinke if they come to Church heare the word receiue the Sacraments all is well they hope God will be mercifull to them they hope they shall not bee damned Well marke what I say thou maist come to church duly thou maist heare the word of God as long as thou liuest thou maiest receiue the Sacrament as often as thou wilt but if thou haue not thy part in the first resurrection that is vnlesse thou liue a godly life vnlesse thou mortifie thy filthy sinnes and vngodly desires vnlesse thou become a new creature surely surely thy estate is lamētable and thy part is in the lake of fire and brimstone which is the second death And therfore let no man deceiue himselfe and sooth himselfe because he heares the Word professes the Gospel receiues the Sacramēt that therfore he is well enough No no though thou heare neuer so much if thou liue in sin in swearing drunkennesse c. thy estate is as wofull as before because thou art not freed from the second death And marke this difference The children of God haue two resurrections and one death they rise from sinne in this life to newnesse and holinesse of life and they rise at the last day to eternall life in Heauen and therefore truely blessed But alas gracelesse and godlesse sinners that haue two deaths and but one resurrection they die in sinne here they are dead in sin and delight in sinne heere and so they die the first death of the body and eternall death the second death of body and soule in hell And as they neuer had part in the first resurrection so the second resurrection is onelie to iudgement to death and to damnation And therefore if you would liue when you bee dead you must die to sin whiles you be aliue Only the penitent sinners shal liue for euer in eternal life onely those which die to sinne shall escape the second death But the impenitent sinner that liues and delights in sinne here he shall die for his sinnes eternally nay hee shall neuer taste of the life to come But as hee would not labour to haue his part in the first resurrection so he shall be sure to haue his portion in the second death which is so fearefull a thing that it might make euen flintie hearts to breake in peeces to lie in fire burning for euer without anie ease or end O let vs looke vnto it and liue a godly life and labour to haue part in the first resurrection and then shall the second death doe vs no harme but wee shall liue for euer in heauen with God 15 And whosoeuer was not found written in the Book of life was cast into the lake of fire THE former verse did shew to vs the execution of the last Iudgement vpon all wicked and vngodly sinners and of that we spoke the last time Now in this Verse wee may obserue the different estate of the children of God and of the wicked for as there bee but two sortes of men Good and Bad Elect and Reprobate Penitent and Impenitent the children of GOD and the limbes of Sathan So there bee but two places Heauen and Hell Ioy and Paine the Right hand and the left and the reward shall be according either Blessed or Cursed for so Saint Iohn saith heere The Elect shall haue eternall life But they that be Reprobates shall be cast into the lake of fire First concerning the Elect and those that be chosen in Iesus Christ and whose names be written in Heauen As their liues do differ from the wicked and vngodly so their estate after this life is farre different for they shall be blessed for euer And if you do aske what is this Blessednesse that all the Elect shall haue I answere with Paul 1. Cor. 29. The eye of man neuer saw it nor it neuer entred into the heart of man to conceiue the hundreth part of this happines yet we may out of the word of God gather some taste of it as it is described vnto vs in the word of God And first formost this blessed state of the godly at the last day stands in this That God shall be all in all vnto vs what good thing soeuer the heart of man can wish 1. Cor. 15.28 that will God be vnto vs. If thou desire wealth why GOD will be it vnto thee If honour or pleasure why Almighty God wil be all in all vnto vs nay euery childe of God shall haue a kingdome Matth. 25. come yee blessed c. Reue. 21. Secondly in the Kingdome of Heauen there shall bee no wants for wee shall bee freed from all sinne and all wants in body and soule shall be supplied And though now wee see God but in part yet then wee shall behold him face to face 1. Cor. 15.28 to our eternall comfort we shal euermore liue in his blessed presence Iohn 17.3 Reuel 21. Psa 17.15 Reu. 22.3 and reigne with him for euer Thirdly all the Elect shall be like vnto Christ Iesus so saith Paul Phil. 3.2.1 Hee shall change our vile bodies make them like his glorious body Christ was most holy pure incorruptible and glorious euen so shall wee be we shall be for euer freed from both sinne Sathan death and hell Fourthly in heauen we shall reape endlesse ioy and happinesse Psal 16.11 and shall delight in praysing of God for euer so as wee shall keepe a perpetuall Sabboth and rest in the seruice and worship of God for euer And this shall be done to all which feare GOD and whose names bee vvritten in the Booke of Life O then cursed be these men and women which thinke Vse and say Matt. 3.14 It is in vaine to serue the LORD O no then men shall know it is not in vaine to serue the Lord Nay God will put a difference betweene them that serue him and serue him not And this should encourage all men to labour to abound in all holy duties seeing God will reward euen the least worke of faith If thou giue but a cup of cold water in the name of Christ verily thou shalt not loose thy reward Though our workes cannot merite yet hee will in mercy for Christs sake thus Crowne the good workes of his children And seeing a few shall be saued ô let vs labour to be of the little Flocke let vs aboue all things seeke this Kingdome of God If thou winne this thou art happy and blessed though thou loose all the world besides And if thou loose it thou art miserable wretched though thou winne the whole world O then what mad men are we if
hee should be a warning to all vngodly sinners Hee gaue his bodie to all kinde of vncleanenesse pride drunkennesse c. Hee gaue his tongue to lying swearing and cursed speaking and now is his body tormented and would giue euen a whole world if he were Lord ouer it for one drop of water to coole his flaming tongue O let him be a warning to all sinners and teach vs to vse our bodies well to look to our eies to our eares and to set a VVatch before our mouthes for feare lest wee dishonour GOD by them and bring endlesse woe vnto our selues Well then you see that as it is an exceeding great ioy to Gods Saints that they shall rise againe so is it a terrour vnto the wicked that they shall Rise againe to Iudgement 1. Sam. 2. It were well with the wicked man with the Drunkard c. if their bodies might neuer rise if they might rotte and perish in corruption and that their soule might be euen as the soule of a beast a vapour vtterly to be extinguished But now there is more behinde they shall one day come to iudgement And therefore Saint Iohn telleth vs in this place that he saw the dead both great and small stand before GOD. Euen our dead bodies must rise eyther to honour or dishonour eyther to ioy or to paine to saluation or damnation And therefore let vs bethinke our selues of this betimes Both great and small Great and Small who These words may admit a double exposition for it may seeme this that by Great and Smal is meant those that be great men growne or else small children young and old all must appeare For wee see that many die euen little children young Infants of a span long some againe die men of yeares Well both great and small must appeare none shall be so yong or so little but that they must stand before GOD and none so great or so strong but they must appeare likewise Secondly by great and small may be vnderstood all sorts and degrees of men and women great men and great women poore men and poore women All sorts and conditions must come to iudgement as well the prince as the subiect as well the rich as the poorest Begger as though Saint Iohn should haue said I saw all men that euer haue beene or shall be to the end of the world none shall be wanting the rich and poore yong and old high and low married and vnmarried bond and free all must stand before God Oh what a wonderfull assembly will this be to see so many millions of thousands It is a great sight to see an Armie of men of a thousand But heere shall be a thousand thousands Euen all men women and children that euer haue beene or shall be to the worlds end None shall be wanting the rich and poore yoong and old high and low bond and free all must stand before God and therefore it is well called the day of the Lord when all the of-spring of Adam shall stand before God Seeing S. Iohn saw the dead both great and small Vses diuerse 1. stand before God that is al sorts of men and women high and low rich and poore bond and free all must appeare and hold vp their Hand at the Barre of this great Iudge Surely this ought to moue all men both great and small rich and poore to make conscience of their liues to repent of all their euill wayes to turne to GOD by true repentance for you see here no excuse can serue the turne no auoyding of this appearance all must appeare the very Diuells themselues 2. Cor. 5. Esay 30. and all the damned spirits must come to iudgemēt Tophet is prepared for the King the Iudge the Gentleman the rich man if they be wicked their riches shall not be excused nor the poorest shall not be forgotten Surely and if we haue any care at all what shall become of our poore soules at this day It ought to perswade al men both poore and rich both Minister and People to repent to turne to Almighty God to leade new liues that then we may reioyce with ioy and comfort This did make Paul to labour to keepe a good conscience Acts 24.16 before God and all men and why Because there would come a day when all must arise to iudgement and giue a straight accompt of all their thoughts wordes and workes And the same reason should mooue vs likeiwse to keepe a cleare conscience And what is the cause that men liue in sinne and defile their bodies with many thousand filthy sins Surely because they thinke not of this day whē they must stand before God If they could but thinke of this day that they must all come to a reckoning O it would stay and bridle their carnall hearts from many foule and filthie sinnes which novv they commit with greedinesse 2. Cor. 5.11 Acts 17.3 This will be a blessed day to all the children of God to heare the Iudge say vnto them Come yee blessed O happy day O blessed voyce But to the vngodlie sinners that liue in sinne to the Drunkard Blasphemer c. this will be a terrible and fearefull day to heare the woefull voyce of the Iudge Go yee cursed into c. Oh dolefull voyce Oh heauie newes O fearefull Sentence O woe and ten thousand woes to all vngodly sinners woe then to the blasphemer woe to the drunkard c. woe vnto all vngodly and wretched sinners for there is no escaping of this Sentence All must appeare all must stand before God all must come to their answere None shall be so great to escape or so small to be forgotten And then woe to them that shall rise to this fearefull and woefull Sentence and heauy newes of condemnation Oh it had beene good for such men if they had neuer been borne or had beene brought foorth as loathsome Toads or Serpents for then beginnes their eternall misery and condemnation O then againe and againe let vs bethinke our selues that wee must come to iudgement we must be called to a reckoning wee cannot escape the Sentence of Iudgement by anie meanes whatsoeuer Agayne vvhere Saint Iohn saith He saw the dead Heere Vse 2 is matter of endlesse comfort to all the poore members of Iesus Christ In this life who is more full of woe vvho more full of payne in bodie and soule then Gods children Long and tedious sickenesses many annoyances Some be sore from top to toe as Iob was some maymed in bodie as the poore man was Iohn 5. Well when our bodies shall now arise they shall not bee weake or lame or maymed but a perfect body sound and a glorious body All paine shall haue an end all woe shall cease But as for the vngodly Psal 1.6 it is not so with them But they shall arise that both bodie and soule may goe to hell together Stand before God I sawe the dead c. Heere wee see againe
them all Thou canst not take one peece of golde or siluer with thee but all must bee left behinde Onelie thy conscience onelie thy bookes onelie thy workes must accompany thee O then what madnesse is this to seeke and hunt after such things as cannot helpe vs nor stand vs in no steade in the day of Iudgement Nay if they be got or kept with a badde conscience they will be a very terrour vnto thee at the last O then let vs looke to our selues let vs not set our hearts too much vppon these things which cannot profite vs in this hote fierie day of triall Why should wee bee so foolish to set our hearts vpon that cannot helpe vs nay which we must leaue behinde vs. And for faith that which might bee our comfort both in life and death and in the dreadfull day of Iudgement I meane a good Conscience which as it is a blessed and a sweete companion in life and death so it will be a blessed comfort to our poore Soules at the day of Iudgement O then I beseech you againe and againe seeing that nothing shall goe with you vnto iudgement but onely your works let vs lay aside our immoderate care for the world yea and the things of this world for these must stay behind vs and cannot helpe vs in the day of Iudgement Let vs labour for better things for durable treasures for a good conscience to abound in good workes in knowledge faith and repentance Let vs take heed wee be not found naked of these O what a woefull case are they in that haue nothing in the world to goe with them to iudgement but an euil heart a galled conscience full of all vncleanenes their state is most woefull and miserable it had beene good for them that they had neuer beene borne Here may a question be moued How this saying of Saint Iohn can stand with that of our Sauiour Iohn 3.18 He that beleeueth shall not come into iudgement but he that beleeueth not is condemned alreadie Now then if the faithfull children of God shall not come into iudgement and the wicked vnbeleeuers be condemned already How saith he that all shal be iudged at the day of Iudgement I answere it is true that the faithfull children of God shall not come into Iudgement that is of condemnation Rom. 8.1 For there is no condemnation c. But God wil pronounce that blessed sentence Come yee blessed c. As for the wicked it is true they be condemned already first in the Decree and Councell of God being Reprobates and Cast-awayes secondly in the word of GOD thirdly in their owne conscience they be condemned already But the full manifestation of this Sentence shall not bee vntill the day of Iudgement And so we are to vnderstand that saying of Salomon Eccles 3. God shal iudge the iust and vniust The iust to saluation the vniust to condemnation Now the third point that I propounded is the touch-stone of this Triall whereby all mens thoughts words and workes shall be tryed To this S. Paul answereth At the day of Iudgement God shall iudge the secrets of all mens hearts by my Gospel Rom. 1.16 Our thoughts our words and our workes must be tryed by the word of God and that thought word or worke which is not according to the written VVord of GOD is an euill thought a vile word and a wicked worke Vse Seeing that all our thoughts wordes and workes must bee tryed and examined by the written word of God by the Lawe and by the Gospell wee haue neede to labour to know them to bee acquainted with them that wee might know what is sin and not sinne good and bad that so wee may leaue the one and doe the other Oh what a woefull case are all they in which are ignorant in the word of God blinde men and vvomen without knowledge they know not what is good or euill And therefore saith the Apostle Paul 2. Thess 1. That the Lord Iesus will come in a flame of fire to render vengeance to them which know him not and obey not the Gospel of Iesus Christ And therefore as you doe loue your soules loue this word of God labour to know it embrace it If thou be ignorant of it and yeelde not obedience vnto it it shall stand against thee at the daie of Iudgement and thou must be tryed by it Therefore let vs all labour to be instructed in it to reade it to remember it and to leade our liues by it For whatsoeuer is done contrarie to it is sinne it must come to iudgement and the Word will condemne it 13 And the sea gaue vp her 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 YOV heard in the twelfth Verse immediately going before how Saint Iohn saw the dead both great and small stand before GOD that is all men and women that euer liued or shall liue vnto the end of the world Now heere might a question arise How this can bee How is it possible that all men should come to Iudgement There haue beene many thousands which haue beene drowned in the Sea and the fishes haue deuoured them some haue beene slaine in the field and the fowles haue eaten their flesh and many haue been burnt and consumed to ashes Then it is a very high poynt a matter beyond all reason that all the dead should rise againe Men that haue beene drowned fishes haue eaten them men againe perhaps haue eaten the fishes and they that haue beene burnt to ashes their ashes haue beene scattered who knoweth whither How then is it possible for them to arise againe Indeed the profane Atheists and filthy epicures are not ashamed â—o say that there shall be no resurrection but when a man dies there is an end of all his ioy and of all his miserie But that the dead shall rise againe is an Article of our Faith We beleeue the resurrection of the dead And so wee know it is a speciall point of Gods glory in mercie to reward his poore children and in punishing in iudgement the wicked and vngodly But as Salomon saith In this Life all things happen alike to the iust and vniust Nay oftentimes Diues is full and at ease when Lazarus is empty and in misery How then should God bee iust if hee should suffer his poore children that loue and feare his Name heere to liue in miserie and neuer to reward them Or again how should God be iust if hee should suffer the wicked and vngodlie heere to liue at ease if there were not a time when they should taste of vengeance Therefore they must come to Iudgement they must rise againe the godlie to bee made partakers of life and ioy and the wicked of shame and confusion Iob saith in his nineteenth chapter That though the wormes did eate his flesh yet hee should beholde God with his eyes And
possesse a Kingdome Hast thou beene hungry and thirsty heere then thou shalt taste of the Tree of Life Hast thou beene poore and naked heere Then thou shalt bee cloathed with the precious Robes of Christs righteousnesse and in steede of the rags of Infamie and Reproch which wee must put on heere wee shall bee crowned with a Crowne of immortall Glorie c. Agayne vnto the wicked and the vngodlie it is not so with them but they hauing taken their pleasure here and receiued their portion in this present world shall arise now to Iudgement to heare the Sentence of Condemnation denounced against them and Mohammed Bouaziziow to bee cast into the Lake that burnes with fire and brimstone for euer Iohn 5.29 which is the second death Thirdly seeing Saint Iohn saith that wee shall all come to iudgement these bodies of ours though they be drowned though they be burnt to ashes or howsoeuer they bee consumed yet they shall rise againe eyther to Life eternall or death eternall Should not this make vs all Beloued to looke vnto our selues to take heed we doe not vse our bodies to the dishonour of God Wouldest thou haue thy bodie to bee partaker of Life Felicitie Glorie and Saluation in heauen Then vse thy bodie now to the glorie of God vpon earth to heare his word to sanctifie Gods Sabboth c. But if thou vse thy bodie to sinne to swearing to drunkennesse whooredome c. then know that thy bodie shall rise againe to iudgement to be tormented for euer Do not looke vpon the rich Glutton Luke 16. hee had abused his bodie to swearing drunkennesse c. and what became of it was hee not fearefully tormented in Hell at last And hee which had giuen his tongue to swearing c. Now he cries his tongue his tongue O that all sinful wretches could but thinke of this one example of GODS iudgements that if they abuse their bodies as this man did that they shall then taste of the same Iudgement Wouldest thou haue thy body glorified then glorifie God in thy body Dost thou thinke that thy soule shall bee saued and thy body glorified if thou vse the members thereof to sinne to vncleanenes c. O no let vs not deceiue our owne soules it can not be For saith the Apostle Rom. 6.2 How can wee that are dead to sinne yet liue therein Fourthly seeing the Holie-Ghost saith that of what death soeuer wee doe die wee shall all rise againe and Gods children they shall rise to life and to glory This must teach vs all this Doctrine namely not to weepe and mourne immoderatly for our friends deceased True it is that CHRIST IESVS wept for Lazarus Iohn 11. and the Disciples made great lamentation for Stephen Acts 7. And so wee haue great cause to mourne and weepe when as some speciall member of the Church of God is taken away we may not be as stockes or stones or senselesse creatures without affection It must needes grieue the heart of a husband to part with his louing godly and religious wife But heere is a meane for this mourning to moderate our weeping that wee weepe not and mourne not ouermuch for they shall rise againe I would not haue you ignorant brethren concerning those that bee asleepe that you should mourne at they that haue no hope 1. Thess 4.13 Where the holy-Ghost tells vs that the dead in Christ doe not die properly but lay them downe to take a sweet sleepe after their long and tedious labors and troubls in this world and afterward they must rise againe to life to happinesse to liberty to glory and saluation And wherefore then should we mourne so excessiuely weep and lament at the death of our friends seeing they doe not perish they are not cast away O no their soules are presently in ioy and their bodies are buried in the graue as in a bed of dowlne to take a sweet sleepe till the day of Iudgement and then they shall rise to glory And they were iudged euery man according to their workes MArke I pray you how the holy Ghost repeates this point againe and againe he beates vpon it he can neuer haue done with it He said before The Bookes are opened and the dead were iudged according to those things written in the books And now againe he saith They were iudged euery man according to his workes What should bee the cause why the Holy-Ghost so often repeats this point and beates so vpon it againe and againe I answere The cause is in vs because wee are hardly brought to beleeue this poynt hardly perswaded of so necessary a matter for hardly one man of a thousand beleeueth this That he shall be iudged according to his workes Oh it is a hard matter to perswade men and women of this That they must giue an accompt of their workes and be iudged by their workes Tell the wicked sinner of his vngodly wayes of his profanenes contempt of Gods word c. And what doe they say Doe they quake and tremble Doth their heart and soules euen erne in them O no no they flatter themselues with this conceit God is mercifull And thus they make the mercie of God a packe-horse for all their abominations And thus it is in the vile heart of man to thinke he shall neuer come to account for his sins that he shall neuer bee called to a reckoning for them and receiue his reward according to his workes Heere then we may perceiue there bee but two sorts of men and women there is the repentant sinner and the impenitent sinner and both of them must come to iudgement The repentant sinner is he or she that mourneth for their sinnes bewaileth them hateth them and leaueth them and doth hunger and thirst after good things Now the impenitent sinner is he or shee that liues in sinne and will not in any wise bee brought to leaue sinne They neuer with teares beg the pardon of them at the handes of God but wallow in all vncleannesse heaping sinne vpon sinne and one vngodly way vpon another whereas all the sinnes of GODS children who doe repent be quit and pardoned in Christ Iesus hee hath nayled them to his Crosse and hath washed them away in his owne Bloud and they shall neuer come to light But their faith their religiō their good deeds as their feeding and cloathing of CHRIST IESVS in his poore members Matth. 25. and according to these they shal receiue their reward life happinesse and eternall saluation and as their good deeds be many and great so shall their honour praise and glory be greater in heauen And therefore we should labour to abound in good works in faith knowledge repentāce loue zeale c. seeing our reward shall be according to our workes But as for the vnrepentant sinner that liues in sinne delights in sinne as they do not repent nor haue no faith nor good workes euen so as their workes shall bee so
shall their punishment be Ah what a wofull haruest hath many a poore soule now to reape at this day that all his life time hath sold himselfe vnto sinne that neuer had any care nor conscience to liue a godly life They shal weep they shal howle lament when they shal see their reward shall be according to their workes O how should this doctirene moue vs all as we haue any care to our poore soules to looke to our selues to watch ouer our wayes to hate sinne as the very bane of our soules and to auoid euery euill worke because euen by our workes shall we be iudged O then as you loue your selues and as you desire life and saluation abound in good workes and as you feare the wrath and endlesse vengeance of God and as you feare the torments of hell take heed of sinne of euery euill thought of euery euill word and of euery euill work for by them we shall be iudged at the last And if our workes be euill let vs assure our selues this will be the sentence of the Iudge Depart from me yee cursed c. But if you haue care to liue here a godly life to abound in good works O then see what a cheerefull and comfortable voyce yee shall heare Come yee blessed of my father c. For iudgement shall proceede according to our workes O that God would touch our hearts that we could but truely learne and beleeue this one lesson That our sentence shall be as our works be and iudgement shall be awarded according to our workes O it would bridle vs from many thousand sinnes and impieties How should any man dare to sinne to sweare to lie to steale c. when as hee knoweth that his reward shall be according vnto his workes and it would inflame our soules to labour to abound in good workes in knowledge faith repentance humiliation care and conscience because if wee abound in these our sentence shall bee happy blessed and comfortable and our glorie and reward shall be great in the Kingdome of heauen The end of the third Sermon The great Assize THE FOVRTH SERMON REV. 20.14.15 4 And death and hel were cast into the lake of fire this is the second death 5 And whosoeuer was not found written in the booke of life was cast into the lake of fire IN the handling of this weighty poynt of Religion the second comning of CHRIST to Iudgement wee haue learned from he mouth of God First what maner of person the Iudge shalâ— be namely that he shall come like a mighty Prince with great Power Maiestie and Glorie to the great comfort of all his poore members to the great terrour and dread of all his enemies Secondly we haue seene who shall be iudged Both great and small Thirdly the manner hovv iudgement shal proceed namely by the written Records of mens consciences And now in the last place we are to come to the execution of iudgement vpon the wicked reprobates and vngodly in these two last verses for when iudgement is pronounced according to their workes when CHRIST IESVS shall say vnto them Depart from me c. then immediately the execution of this senâ—ence shall follow for so saith Saint Iohn here And death and â—ell were cast into the lake of fire â—hat is the second death First here we are to seeke the â—rue meaning of the Text beâ—ause there is neuer a word that â—s plaine but may moue a quetion For First what is Death that hee â—hould bee cast into Hell Is Death any creature Is Death â—ubiect to paine and torment Surely no. Death is no bodie â—t hath no sense nor feeling Death is no creature but onely â—he depriuation of life Againe â—hat a strange speech is this â—hat death should be cast into â—ell how can this be Secondly what is meant by â—he lake of Fire Is hell a water â—r fire like our fire And lastly wee are to consider what is meant by the secoÌ„d death into which al reprobates must be cast First heere by death and hell is meant not death it selfe or hell it selfe but the heires of death and hell that is all the Reprobates that shall bee cast into hell fire and there die for euermore Thus then you see what is heere meant by death and hell namely the heires of death and fire-brands of hell All reprobates all impenitent sinners that liue and die in their sinnes all those shall be cast into the lake of fire Seeing the holy-Ghost giues these Titles and Names to all wicked and vngodly sinners euen death and hell Surely this shewes the wonderfull miserie and the cursed estate of those that liue and die in their sinnes without repentance Alas it is so woefull and damnable that they be euen called death and hell it selfe Oh then let all sinners that liue and delight in sinne Vse take heed vnto themselues You do see the woefull miserie of all impenitent sinners Namely that they are no better then the vessells of wrath the heires of eternall death and fire-brands of hell for euermore O that all sinners could forethinke of this wofull miserie that hangs ouer their heades What a strange kinde of speech is this and of what force when God calleth such Reprobates euen death hell it selfe Ah poore wretches Ah miserable and wofull creatures which are but death and hell it selfe Oh would that the Drunkards c. could lay this to heart That howsoeuer they see not their misery nor the woefull estate wherein they liue but blesse themselues in their sinnefull wayes yet they are no better then the heires of vengeance and wrath of God nay indeed very death and hell it selfe True it is that many wicked men doe as the people did in Esay his time Esay 28.11 though they liued in horrible sinnes yet they made a league with death and were at an agreement with the Graue they had taken a Lease of death and hell to liue in sin by Licence without punishment But the Lord tells them he will breake their couenants and disannull their agreements and although they haue liued a long time in sinne yet in the end death will knocke at their doores and he will lay hold vpon them and they must pay full deare for their long Lease euen the losse of bodie and soule for euer And is not this the practise of most men and women Doe they not euen make a couenant with death and do they not labour to be at agreement with hell Men liue in swearing lying drunkennesse c. and yet they thinke they shal neuer die they thinke they shall escape for all their sinnes But poore soules let them well know that death and hell will seize vppon them Nay if they liue and die in their sinnes without repentance let them know that they be not better then death and hel it selfe and they must be cast into the lake of fire True it is you shall see many a notorious sinner contemner of the
the height and the measure of her iniquitie is once full according to that of Sainct Iohn in the Reuelation Shee is fallen shee is fallen euen Babylon that great Citie c. God put it into the hearts of all christian princes to rise vp against her * By suppressing of Poperie that their warre with them may assure them of a peace with themselues and with their Lord God For how dangerous they be vnto a christian common-wealth euen theyr hellish Attempts do shew Neyther is it an error in practise as many would beare men in hand but it is an error in doctrine teaching yea and maintaining it that they may safely kill and take away the life of a christian Prince that will not yeelde and subiect himselfe vnto the Pope of Rome * Therfore traitors to Christian Princes in action or affection and so much the more dangerous to be sufferd And no maruell then though they can not endure the manifestation of God his Word which is a Lanthorne vnto our feete and a Light vnto our Paths directing vs to heauen For this Light if the Pope did not smother it euen little children in the Streetes would long ere this haue cryed Fie vpon them fie vpon them Jt is my care both in publike and priuate out of my small reading to discouer as much as in me lieth the mysterie of Iniquitie and to lend one blast to the sounding of that Horne The word that shall at last shake downe the walles of this Iericho Jt is the old and ancient Doctrine of Faith and Repentance that I heere intreate of As for the plainenesse of the manner of deliuery of it I do trust you will acknowledge that the power of the spirit is best seene in weakenesse and that plainelinesse do best answere a straight and euen Leuell the euidence of the spirit is best seene in plainenesse J haue presumed to prefixe your Worshippes Name vnto this small Worke Jt shall by Gods good blessing increase your loue vnto the truth and gospell of Iesus Christ A zealous professour whereof you haue shewed your selfe to be these many yeares and worke in you a further detestation of Poperie As you haue begun well so proceed and let your workes be more at last then at first Be still for God in all his wayes and God will be still for you in all your waies aduance him still and hee will aduaunce you Thus I adde this poore Mite to the treasurie of the Church ascribing the Patronage to your selfe the vse to the world and the successe of it to God I pray God to keepe you in his holy feare and fauour vnto the end and so remaine Your worships in the surest bond SAMVEL SMITH A Table of the Doctrines contained in these two Sermons THE FIRST SERMON CANT 1. v. 6.7 Doctrine 1. CHRIST IESVS must bee loued with the strongest affection of Loue. p. 234 Doct. 2. True note of a Sheepe of Christ to hunger and thirst after the word of God p. 225 Doctr. 3. The church of God doth acknowledge Christ to bee her chiefe shepheard p. 267 Doctr. 4. The church of GOD sometimes is in the very heate of persecution p. 274 Doctr. 5. Christ leaueth not his church in the heate of persecution but prouideth comfort for them p. 285 Doct. 5. It is altogether impossible for men to holde out in time of triall that are not assisted by God p. 296 THE SECOND SERMON CANT 1. v. 7. Doctrine 6. CHRIST esteemeth of his church as if they had no sinne p. 308 Doctr. 7. The church of GOD sometimes may bee at such a streight as not to discerne the truth p. 317 Doctr. 8. A direction to know which is the true church p. 324 A Fold for Christs SHEEP THE FIRST SERMON CANT 1.6.7 6 Shew thou me O thou whom my soule loueth where thou feedest and where thou liest at noone For why should I bee as shee that turneth aside to the Flocks of thy companions 7 If thou know not O thou the fairest among women get thee forth by the steps of the Flocke and feede thy Kiddes by the Tents of the Shepheards BEFORE I enter into the Text it selfe which I haue now read vnto you it shal not be amisse for my better proceeding and your vnderstanding to speake something concerning the order of placing this Booke the Title of it and the subiect matter therein contained Touching the order of placing this Booke wherein king Salomon labours to build vp the Spirituall Temple of the Soule It is the same hee obserued in building the materiall temple 1. Reg 6. where he framed three Courts the vtmost for the Common People the second for the Priests and Leuites and last of all that Sanctum Sanctorum the Holiest of Holies onelie for the High Priest to enter in at and that but once a yeare euen so in this Spirituall Temple of mans Soule hee hath likewise framed three Courts First an vtmost Court which is his Booke of Prouerbes where all sorts and degrees of men whatsoeuer are taught instructed a ciuill course of maners Next to that he hath a second Court which is his Ecclesiastes leading men on further in the wayes of godlinesse and Christian piety And last of all hee hath a Sanctum Sanctorum which is his Canticles wherein not euerie one but onely those which delight in heauenlie and Diuine Mysteries may behold the pure free perfect eternall and constant loue of Christ Iesus towards his Church and euerie faithfull Soule as also the loue of his Church towardes him and what great and princely benefits she reapeth by him Secondly for the Title and subiect matter of this most excellent Booke as there is Sabbatum Sabbati so this is a Song of Songs because of all that Salomon did endite this is most Diuine and most excellent In the which hee doth most liuely and affectionately by Allegoricall and Parabolicall Speeches cipher out and describe vnto vs the most holie and perfect loue of Christ Iesus towardes the Church his blessed Spouse For CHRIST and his Church are heere brought in in this worthie Booke as two Paramours Psalme 45 who are in loue the one with the other as a time of wooing euer goeth before the solemnization of Matrimonie and which in due conuenient time haue a purpose to marrie Math. 1.11 as Ioseph and Mary were first espoused before they came together So the same order is obserued in this Spirituall Vnion betwixt Christ and his Church Iohn 3.29 They must first bee contracted then after married The Contract is when a man is regenerate and borne anew Reuel 21 9. translated out of Nature into Grace depending only vpon Christ for saluation and finished and made vp in the day of Iudgement when all the Elect shall fully enioy Christ For so witnesseth the Holy ghost where it is said Let all be glad and reioyce and giue glory to him for the Marriage of the Lambe is come and