haue very manie tokens that we might take heede of the iudgement daye to make vs more carefull how wee shall come before the iudgement seate of our Sauiour Christ seeing his comming is as a theefe in the night That is when as al are secure and asleepe in their sins Apo 16 15 for danger commeth most when it is least looked for Irrecouerable as a stronger net thē that which christ made a hole in when al the birds brake out after him singing Psal 124 6 Luke 21 35 The snare is broken and we are deliuered As a snare shall it come on al them that dwell on the earth As Christ asked the Iewes for which of his good works they sought his death so it would bee knowne which of Gods blessinges haue banished vs from him for as the fuller the buckette is with water the more hardlie it is haled vp out of the well so the more men abound in God his blessinges the farther they are from him Iohn 6 44 Therfore said Christ No man commeth vnto me except my father draweth him And seeing like mice in Gods barne wee are content to feed on his corne and enioy his blessings here but loth to see the Lorde of the haruest Paule telleth vs That we must all appeare Euery mothers child of vs. And they needes must that needes shall The second obseruation is That we shall appeare before a Iudgement seate Whereby is vnderstood that Iudiciall power that is giuen to Iesus Christ in heauen and in earth Matth. 28.18 but most specially that generall Iudgement which was reuealed to S. Iohn whereof he saith Apoc. 20.11 I saw a great white throne one that sate on it 12. And I sawe the dead both great and small standing before God and the bookes were opened c. Luke 17.1 As it cannot be but offences must come so it cannot bee but Iudgement will followe Paule could not acquite the best of vs with death but so soone as hee had sayd It is appointed for al men once to die Heb. 9.27 addeth and then commeth the iudgement Balaam rode on till the Angel met him where he could not turne and so long as men haue to deale but with men they dare say declare and we wil declare They wil pleade their own case but when the matter commeth in question before Christ who will be their dayes man or take vpon him to answere one thing of a thousand We are put in mind of a Iudgment seate that all may iudge themselues that they be not iudged that is to say condemned of the Lord. In this world Iezabel can get two that will say 1. Reg 21.10 that Naboth blasphemed God Ahab The Iewes will bring forth false witnesse that Christ sayd Mat 26.60.61 Destroy this materiall temple of Ierusalem and I will build it vp againe in three daies And because the lawe sayth That in the mouth of two or three witnesses euery cause in controuersie must bee proued therefore iniquitie hath prouided Knights of the post that are readie to sweare almost to any matter for a little money But as whē the Elders left Susannaes Susan 50. cause in wrong sentēce Daniel took in hand to right it so whē the mightie haue wronged the meaner sorte Christ will determine of the matter Therefore Dauid made choice of his iudgement before any other first for that God goeth wisely to work in waying the waight of euery mans matter Ponder my cause O Lord. Psalm 5.1 And then for speedie dispatching without respite of iudgement from terme to terme Psalm 119.52 For I haue remēbred thine euerlasting iudgements O Lord and haue receiued comfort vz. The time will come when Gods iudgements shall stande not onely in stead of all plea but also inreuocable for euer It is a terrible matter to fall into the hands of the Lord because that if he beginneth with a man 1. Sam. 4. he will make an ende with him as he did with Eli 1. Sam. 21.13 Dauid escaped the hands of Achish King of Gath by faining himselfe to be mad but bee ye sure God is not mocked Dan. 5.27 Nabuchadnezzar was wayed found too light in the ballance and his kingdome diuided to the Medes and Persians And how can any man sooth vp himselfe imagining God to bee like to men who receiuing light golde are contented to take that in tale which is wanting in waight Luk. 19.24 He that abused one talent had it taken from him much lesse may we prophane many blessings yet possesse them still If we haue all receiued talents then must we al giue accounts If we all haue treasure we must all haue care that it canker not Matth. 6.19 we did not receiue them to lay them vp idely for it was sayd Occupie till I come Luke 19.13 Neither helpeth it that wee do render as much as we haue receiued Luke 19.23 but God will haue spirituall interest of all his spiritual blessings because he is God Matth. 22.21 as Caesar had tribute because he was King The remembrance of the iudgement seate of Christ should make men as loth to consent to sin as Ioseph was to hearken to Putifers wife for as he sayd How can I doe this great wickednes and sinne against God So should all men scan the matter and say If I sin I sinne against God Gen. 39.9 if I sinne against GOD I must answere it before his iudgement seate another day Ioseph was prouident and yet ouerseene in sinning for though hee would not cōsent to Madam Putifer yet would hee sweare by the life of his Lorde Pharao Gen. 42.16 See how sinne pleadeth custome with Ioseph as Laban did with Iacob when he sayd That it was not the manner to marrie the yonger before the elder Gen. 20.25 Because it was vsuall in Pharaoes Court to sweare by the life of Pharao vpon euery light occasion therefore Ioseph neuer suspecteth it to bee a sinne so that where sinne is not suspected it is quite neglected and where it is not had in lothing there in time it seemeth nothing Gen. 4 7. Eze. 18.2 Adams Apple was like Ezekiels sower grape whereof the fathers tasting the childrens teeth are set on edge for the sonnes are many times tainted with their fathers sinnes as Gehazies posteritie were with his leprosie 2. Reg. 5.27 Therefore as all are guiltie in respect of nature so all are summoned to the seate of iudgement The diuels did acknowledge against themselues a time of torment Matth. 8.29 the guest at the wedding was speechles on a sodaine Matth. 22.12 so shall the wicked either in speech cōdemne themselues like him that was iudged of his own mouth Luk. 19.22 or by mute silēce argue their owne guiltines Iob. 9.2 that GOD may not stand to pleade with them that cannot answere to one matter of a thousand The guests
fed them with bread and water For whosoeuer doth hear God doth good for Gods people like Obadiah and God dooth good to him Exod 9 10 for so many of Pharaos seruantes as feared God were preserued from the daungerous haile Our sauior Christ sheweth the cause why the godly are so desirous to appeare and why the vngodly are so lothe to come before Christ Of the first sort he saith Iohn 3 21 He that doth truth commeth to the light that his deeds might be made manifest that they are wrought acording to God Hee is like the poore true meaning man molested wrongfully that neuer ceaseth soliciting the iudge that he may haue a daye of hearing like the widdow that cryed Luke 18 3 Auenge me 〈…〉 20 c. of the other he saith Euerie one that doth euil hateth the light and commeth not to the light least his deedes should be reproued Hee is like the guiltie defendant calling for respite of iudgement like the diuels that cried let vs not bee tormented before the time Matth 8 29 But Paule speaketh not of the certeinty of any definite time but rather of the general appearance and so of the impossibility of any mans exemtion from being accomptable in his Stewardship Luke 16 13 The scripture mentioneth one account of a bad Steward but least any man should thinke that that parable should only warrant the account of bad men Paule putteth the question out of controuersie that our account shal be generall for he saith flatly we shal al appear Actes 25 9 Acts 25 10 Wilt thou go vp to Ierusalem and there be iudged of these matters before me sayde Festus to Paule Paule might appeare to Ceasars iudgement seate because hee was a Romaine borne Therefore Festus saide Wilt thou Acts 22 28 c. but wil we or nil we euerie mothers childe of vs shal appeare where Christ hath summoned vs. Then let not the badde stand stil at the weake state they are in Gene 41.20 like Pharaos leane kine nor the good cease to goe on in their pilgrimage like strangers on the earth but like Iosua going towarde Canaan say I and my housholde will serue the Lord. Iosua 14 15 When Salomon had seene all the inconueniences of the sluggardes Vineyarde Prou. 24 32 he tooke it for a warning And wee are verie happy menne if wee haue the grace to take heede of that which is foretolde vs. When Felix heard Paule dispute of his appearance to come Actes 24 26 he trembled and so do the diuels with all the wicked but few examine themselues with Ieremie who saide What haue I done Ierem. 8 6 Gene 42 21 Except it be when it is too late like Iosephes brethren in the famine which said one to another we haue vtterly sinned against our brother in that we sawe the anguish of his soule when he be sought vs and wee woulde not heare him Gen 42 21 Gene 3 1 therefore is this trouble come vpon vs. The serpent was iustlie called the subtellest beast in the fielde and sinne the sonne is like the diuell his father loth is it to come in his owne likenesse but as the diuell came to Saule in the shape of Samuel Sam. 1 28 Eccle 10 11 so commeth sinn not like a serpent but like the subtil serpent that stingeth without hissing Serpents come closely that men may not perceiue them so shal they first feele their sin and then see that they haue sinned when they cannot amend the matter But se how Pauls epistle coms running like the messenger to Iob Iob 1 14 saith he is dead I am escaped to tel thee See here a message is come from the dead Paule to admonish vs to bee carefull to liue wel while we are heere that wee may meet with him in his ioye elsewhere Eccles 10.7 The hart of a wise man is at his right hand saith Salomon vz he is ready to follow al good admonitions When men are vppon the Sea in danger they wil cast al away to keep their life Acts 27 38 Apoc 13 1 Iames 1 8 Luke 11 8 we should leaue al things willingly for the life to come What is the world but as an incōstant sea what are the troubles heere but as tempests there what is the Church afflicted but as a ship tossed what are christian men but carefull marriners striuing against storm stream to ariue safe in the hauen of Heauen Actes 27 9 Acts 14 22 Sailing was very dangerous in Pauls long voyage by Sea but yet he wafted on And we must trauel through many troubles to the kingdome of Christ Actes 14 21 As Paules fellowe sailers wished for the day so al christians desire the true light Psal 42 2 Therefore saieth Dauid When shal I come and appeare beefore God as though he thought euery minute to bee a moneth vntill the iudgement day were come This maketh the spouse so inquisitiue after him Cant 3 3 that she is questioning with as many as meet her Saw ye him whom my soule loueth The church woulde not see Christ Luke 19 3 Heb 12 1 as Philip Andrewe saw him nor as Zacheus saw him nor as the cloud of witnesses saw him but so in his kingdome Math 17 2 as Moses and Elias sawe him in his glorie vppon Mount Thabor Take heed watch pray for ye know not when the time shall be Math 13 33 saith our Sauiour Christ to the dysciples because we know not the daie of appearance therefore wee are often warned to watch that we may be ready like the mariner that waiteth on the winde and tide like the smith that smiteth whiles the yron is hot and as birdes breed while summer lasteth The speech of Abraham to the rich man in hel concerneth vs now while we are out of hel Sonne remember that thou in thy life time haddest pleasure Luke 16 25 Psal 95 8 The Psalmist saith we must heare God while it is to day vz while we may and in another Psalme I will pay my vowes now saith the prophet teaching men to take their present opportunitie Psal 116 12 to giue God his dutie other waies they may soothe vppe themselues Psal 116.14 with Beholde O Lorde how that I am thy seruaunt but cannot saye and the sonne of thy handmaide while they are not at hande to doe his beheastes Christ saide watch Math 25 13 for ye know not when the houre wil come because we know not at what houre Christ will come therfore it is reason to be ready euery houre and the last houre is vnknowne to vs that wee might account euery houre to be the last hower yet as before the Wall falleth downe some stones drop out of it and cliftes appeare as before the flame mounteth some smoake is seene And as before the mightye thunderbolt a flashe of lightning flieth out so wee
Iudg. 9.14 But this hath been an olde ouersight in the most assemblies that they forget that maxime or speciall principle giuen by almightie God Whom the Lord shall choose him thou shalt make gouernor None are ignorant that the iudgement seate was Moses seate who haue read or heard that saying of our Sauiour Christ Matth. The Scribes and the Pharisies sit in Moses seate c. Moses was a man that would both say and doe well and therefore was called faithfull in all Gods house But as the Scribes that would say what they must but do what they list succeeded Moses in the seate of Magistracie Matth. 24.15 so wicked men like that abomination of desolation do sit where they ought not and this is that vnseemly sight that Salomon saw some times Eccle. 10.7 VVhen seruants were set on horsebacke and Magistrates made to goe on foote When Christ was gloriously vpon Mount Thabor it is witnessed that his very rayment was as white as the light Matth. 17.2 which sheweth that there is an intent in causing your Magistrates to differ from other men in the excellencie of his very garment for as hee offendeth in life by his euill example so he spotteth his garment that is scarlet or purple and then Esay telleth him Esay 1.18 Sir your sinnes are as red as scarlet And Ezra his messengers spake plainly The hande of the Ruler is chiefe in this trespasse Ezra 9.2 These men are more vnmeet to rule then Zedechias 2. King 25.7 that had his eyes put out for they will not see and Adony Bezecke 1. Iud. 6. that had his fingers cut off for they may but will not gird thē with their sword vpon the thigh Psal 45.4 And therefore Salomon complaineth grieuously Eccle. 3.16 I haue seene wickednes in the place of iudgement and iniquitie in the place of equitie That euery one may receiue the things that are done in his bodie c. BY euery one is ment that none can escape Matth 22 11. no more thē that guest at the Wedding could bee vnspied when the house was full so that no man may sooth vp himselfe to passe for as the King came in to see the guests so he came to iudge them to And as Peter sayd Acts 10.35 All that worke righteousnes are accepted with God so all that worke vnrighteousnesse are reiected from God and because euery one shall bee iudged therefore Paul maketh priuate application of his exhortation and saith 1. Cor. 11.28 Let a man examine himselfe Like as in the riddle that Christ propounded Matth. 29.21 I tell you that one of you shall betray me euery man fell into examination of himselfe Master is it I 22. Eleuen of them could not expound it and the twelfth would not So they that will not reprooue themselues now must looke to be reproued another day to their shame Would not a man bee ashamed to haue his faults written in his forehead Saint Iohn saw a book open and that was the consciences of all men Apoc. 20.22 wherein our selues shall as plaine remember our faults as if they were layd down in writing before vs. Then that prophesie is fulfilled Psal 50.24 I will reproue thee and set before thee the things which thou hast done These words euery one doe include the shortnes of the iudgement day for as the little clowde that Elias his seruaunt sawe vpon Mount Carmell though it were but of the bignes of a hande contained much raine in it 1. King 18.44 as the little penny contained the Princes picture Matth. 22.19 And as Dauids little stone that carried great Goliaths present death in it 1. Sam. 17.50 And as the lightning comming from the East Matth. 24.27 is immediatly in the West so shall a short time and a few words comprehend a great and swift iudgment Rom. 9.28 Therefore sayd Paul A short word shall the Lord make vpon earth For why should GOD dispute with men Iob. 9.2 that cannot answere one thing of a thousand sayth Iob. May receiue the things that are done in his bodie Seeing our bodie must receiue the things that it hath done that is Matth. 22.13 This bodie that we now carrie That was but a seducing doctrine of the Sadduces who affirmed that there is no resurrection of the dead for as Paul sayth 2. Cor. 15.19 If our hope endeth with our life wee were most miserable of all men This was the opinion of such as grounding vpon reason were outreached by faith for where reason endeth there faith beginneth Therefore sayth Paul By faith wee vnderstand that the world was made by the worde of God and that the things which are Heb. 11.3 were not made of things which did appeare Now if we turne faith into reason or rather if wee doe reason in faith we shall finde the trueth of this doctrine confirmed by reason and common sence for if wee beleeue that God created man of nothing which the Scripture calleth creation then must we much more beleeue that he can raise man vp againe when hee is some thing that created him of nothing Gen. 1.1 But if any Saduce will say that he denieth not a resurrection of Gods people in respect of any want of Gods power but thinking it needeles because the badde goe imediatlie in soule to hell and good soules to God that gaue them I answer that it is as requisit that there be a resurrection as that there should bee a God otherwise the bodie and soule should neuer meete and bee ioyned to the head Christ Iesus for as Paul saide Beholde I shew you a mysterie 1. Cor. 15.51 so I say and he ment that our coniunction with our head Christ must bee done mistically by the working of the Godhead or else we shall still bee like the kerchief that was by it selfe Ioh. 20.7 that is as it was wrapped vp in a place by it selfe seuered from the rest of the linnen clothes that were about his body so we the members should bee parted from Christ our head in heauen and should remayne on earth by our selues And Christ himselfe saith that if he should not raise vp all at the last day then he should not doe the worke of a Sauiour Ioh. 6.39 This is the Fathers will that hath sent mee that of all which he hath giuen me I should loose nothing but should raise it vp at the last daye for it is all one as if hee had said if there were no resurrection then were I no Sauiour for if I raise them not then I saue them not Therfore first he threatneth death 1. Cor. 15.55 then conquireth death Paul concludeth this as a necessarie poynt in diuinitie to say Christ is risen ergo wee shall rise too for you see he thinketh no argument better then to say If it be preached that Christ is risen 1. Cor.