This is the seuenth article of our faith to beleeue that Christ shall come from heauen to iudge the quick and the dead by the deade all those are to bee vnderstoode that shall bee found dead at the second comming of Christ by the quicke all those are to bee vnderstoode that shall bee found liuing at that his second comming Augustine in his Enchirioson to Laurentius chapter 55. sayth that this article may bee expounded two wayes eyther by the dead sayth be may be meant those that shall be found corporally dead by the quicke those that shall be found corporally liuing at Christs comming or saith hee by the dead may bee meant those that bee dead in sinne according to that in the Gospell of Matthew Let the dead bury their dead and by the quicke those that be dead to sinne and liuing by faith according to that of the Prophet Abacucke the iust shall liue by faith But this exposition is not agreeable to the simplicity of the Creed Yet notwithstanding true it is that both the godly and the wicked shall come to iudgement for by the power of Christ all men shall be raised vp the holy Angels with the greate sound of a Trumpet shal be sent forth into all the world and they shall gather togither the elect from the fowre quarters of the earth from one end of the heauen to the other Then shall Christ separate the electe from the reprobates the wheate from the Tares the come from the cheffe the Lambes from the Contes the iust from the vniust So that you see that the godly and the wicked yea all men whatsoeuer shall appeare before Christs tribunall seate and giue an accounte of themselues and for themselues to the terrible Iudge Ob. Som not withstanding may obiect against this doctrin deliuered and say as it to in Iohn That bee that beleeueth in Christ shall not be iudged or shall not come into iudgement and so by consequence all men shall not bee iudged Ans To which I answer that iudgment in that place of Iohn as in many other places of sacred scriptures is taken for condemnation in which sense true it is that bee that beleeueth in Christ Iesus he that is ingrafted into Christ by a true and aliuely faith he that is flesh of his flesh bone of his bone one with Christ and Christ with him by the spirituall coniunction of the Church with CHRIST this party shall not come into iudgement sâ—â—l Condemnationis that is of Condemnation in iudgement he shall not bee confounded condemned or ouerthrowne but he shall come in iudicium absolutionis that is Into the iudgement of absolution In iudgement hee shall stand out hauing on the white Robe of Christs righteousnesse and beeing couered with the wedding garment of Regeneration The trueth of which doctrine the Preacher affirmeth saying GOD will iudge the iust and the vniust The iust vnto saluation and the vniust to damnation Seing then that all must be brought to iudgement let no man thinke with himselfe that it may be possible for him to escape this dreadfull day whither shall hee flie from the presence of the Lord If he ascendeth vp to heaueÌ„ God is there if hee goe downe to hell God is there also if he take the wings of the morning and she to the vttermost parts of the sea God will finde him out there also For God is euery where hee is in heauen by his glory hee is vppon the earth by his mercy hee is in hell by his iustice God is vbique nulquam he is euery where by his power and wisedome but no where in respect of circumscription of place being a spirit In earthly and terrestriall courts a man may haue his proctor but then wee must volentes nolentes whether wee will or no personally appeare and pleade for our selues In terrestriall courts bribes many times blind the eyes of the wise and for a little greasing the fist of the Magistrate many times small faults nay by your leaue greate and scandalous crimes may be winked at but at this great court of heauen the Iudge will not be partial to any for God hath no respect of persons hee will execute iust iudgement vpon all men as the Psalmographer speaketh VVith righteousnes will be iudge the world and the people with equitle Bribes friends intreaties bowlings cries lamentations nothing wil then preuaile but a pure heart and a spirits vpright yea the damned in Hell confesse the same quid profuit nobis superbia quid diuitiaruÌ„ copia what hath pride profited vs or what hath the pomp of riches done vs good alas these cannot saue our soules Let the Atheist therfore mock God neuer to blasphemously let the Sadduces brag of no resurrection no Angel no spirit neuer so schismatically let the Epicure slug that cursed Epitaph of Sardanapalus neuer so beastly Ede lude bibe charum praeseÌ„tibus exple delicijs animuÌ„ post martem nulla voluptas that is Eat drink play be merry live in al kind of plesure for after death there is no pleasure Yet notwithstanding let all these miserable wretches know that there wil come a day and the a dismal day wherin they shall giue an account of euery idle word Alas lamentable world that men shoulde thus murther their dearest darlings I meane their soules which Christe hath holden so dear that men should with Esau sel their birthright and heritage of heaueÌ„ for a messe of pottage of worldy pleasure that men shoulde delight in wallowing with the sow in the myre of sin and with the dog in swallowing the vomit of iniquity so purchase to their souls and bodies euerlasting torment in the lake vnquenchable whereas they should aboue all things seeke the kingdome of God and the righteousnesse therof that they mighte haue heauenly mansions at the great day of account Let euery Christian therfore bewayle the wickednesse of this world lament the iniquity of these dates least it bee saide of vs as of the carelesse and gracelesse Christian Cadit afina est qui sublenet perist anima nonest quirecogitat If an asse falleth vnder his burthen there be some that will diligently helpe it vp againe but if a soule perish no man regardeth it Men are like the horse asse mule that haue no vnderstanding the more is the good mans griefe Dauid his eyes gushed out into riuers of water because men kept not gods law The prophet Ieremy crieth out on this maÌ„ner My belly my belly I am payned euen at the heart I cannot be quiet becaus my people is a foolish people they are wife to do euill but to doe well they haue no knowledge That godly Matrone Monica saiâ— Augustine mother wayte daily and prayed for her sonne a conuersion for hee was before his conuersion a Manichâ—e So likewise it is the duty of euery Christian to desire the conuersion of their
trueth in his words yea he reporteth of himselfe in John that he is via voritas vita the way the truth and the life He therefore that speaketh truth to his neighbour sheweth himselfe to bee the child of Christ Iesus the fountaine and origo of al truth but he that speaketh â—asings and vttereth forth lies sheweth himselfe to be the childe of the diuel the author originall of all lies 2 Christ had vt in verbis profit in his words as he spake truly so he spake profitably he neuer spake one idle or vnprofitable word throughout the whole course of his life which was aboue 32 years 3 Christ had moderameÌ„ in verbis A mean in his wordâ— the neuer was in words excessiâ—e and when iust and necessarie occasion was offered hee was neuer deficient but Ladie meane I meane golden vertuâ— drew forth his well contriued wordes out of the rich content of his euer-flowing heart He fulfilled that saying of Iesus the son of â—h the wordes of the wise are weighed in a ballance In these three thinges should euerie one imitate Christ Iesus and then wee should abstaine as hee did from idle vaine friuolous and vnprofitable words for which a great account must be giueÌ„ the which imitation of Christ the Lord for Christ his sake graunt to all men that they being like vnto him may bee receiued to reigne with him and his holy Angels in the thrice happie heauens at that day Amen But I say vnto you that of euery idle word that men shall c. 3 To whome this account must bee giuen although in this scripture the Iudge is not expresly mentioned yet notwithstanding quod subintelligitur non dâ—est that which is vnderstoode is not wanting and therefore not to bee omitted This Iudge therefore before whose tribunall seat all mankinde must appeare it is Christ for he was annointed of his father into a triple office to be a Priest after the order of Melchisedech to be a Prophet after the order of Dauid to be a King after the order of Salomon Therfore Christ as hee is king ouer all in heauen and earth is this iudge before whome wee muste all appeare the truth of this is euident in the Epistle of Saint Paule to the Corinthians VVe must all appeare before the tribunall seate of Christe c. Wee read also in Iohn that the father iudgeeth no man but hee hath committed all iudgement to his sonne And in Mathew it is written that all power is giuen to Christe in heauen and in earth This was prophecied of him in the Psalme Thou art my sonne this day haue I begotten thee aske of mee and I wil giue thee the heathen for thine inheritance and the ends of the earth for thy possession thou shalt crush them with a Scepter of iron and breake them in peeces like a potters vessel And againe in another place Sit thou at my righte hand vntill I make thine enemies thy footstoole Yea it is an article of our faith to beleeue that Christ shall come againe to iudge the quicke and the dead Christ is therfore the iudge yea he is the vorus Index a righte Iudge for this word Index that is Iudge is as much as ius dicens id est One that speaketh iustice and Iudice that is to iudge is as much as ius dice to speak iustice and iudicium that is iudgement is as much as iurisdicium if I may so terme it that is a iust and righte speech So Christ being an vprighte iudge maintaineth iustice in iudgement hee is a iudge that will vse no partialitie but will reward euery man according to his works he is a iudge that hath no respecte of persons Men in this world may fitly be compared to actors of a Comedie vpon a stage Whereto one acteth that part of a Prince another of a Duke another of an Earl another of a noble man another of a GentlemaÌ„ another of a Magistrate another of a merchant another of a countrimaÌ„ another of a seruaÌ„t one acteth one part one another so long as they are vpon the stage so long there is respect according to their parts one of another amongst them but when the Comedie is ended and the stage pulled downe then there is no such respect amongst them yea many times he that played the basest part is the best man So likewise so long as men art suÌ„dry parts vpon the stage of this earth that is so long as men doe liue in seuerall vocations so long there is respect amongst men and that worthily but when as the Come die shall bee ended that is the day of doome shal come vpon all men when as the stage shall be pulled downe that is the earth shall bee chaunged for the earth shall neuer bee brought ad non ens to nothing but onely the corruptiue qualities shall bee consumed then shall there bee no respecte of persons amongest men yea it may bee that the poore man shall be greater before God than the rich man Yea and Besides all this vpon the earth GOD hath no respecte of persons although there bee respecte amongest men but euery man shall receiue according to his workes the Prince as wel as the subiecte the rich as well as the poore If a Iudge then should come into a citie should iudge the greatest part of the citty to death sparing no man nec precio nec prece neither by bribes nor intreaties would not euery man in that Citty be in great perplexity and feare so feare this Iudge who shall come with thousandes of Angels in greate Pompe Maiestie and Glorie into the citty of this world and iudge the greatest part of mankinde to death and damnation sparing no man neither pretto nor prece neyther by bribes nor yet by intreaties a Iudge that wil vse no partiality A Iudge that is able to destroy both bodie and soule in hell are for euermore feare this iudge this terrible Iudge this iust Iudge this strict Iudge that wil not suffer one idle word to escape in iudgement thou that hast offended this Iudge by thy manifolde transgressions thou that hast deserued for them euerlasting torments in the pit of hell feare him quake and tremble before him at the hearing of this hard saying But I say vnto you that of euery idle words that men shall speake they shall giue account thereof at the day of iudgement If Paule a chosen vessel and a faithful seruant of Iesus Christ was afraide of this iudgement if the iust and vprighte man Iob cried out and said Quid agam quò me conuertam cum venerit dominus ad iudicandum What shall I doe O whither shall I tuâ—ne me when the Lord commeth to iudgement If blessed Hilary who from the fourteenth yeere of his age serued the Lord in singlenesse of heart and in sincerity of life to his liues end was afraid of this day as it appeareth by
his speach vpon his death-bed Egredere anima agredere quid times quid dubitas that is Goe forth O soule goe forth why art thou afraid why doubtest thou thou hast serued Christ these seuentie yeares art afraid now to depart If these holy men were afraide of this terrible day how oughtest thou O sinner that art defiled with sinne from top to toe that hast not serued thy God as thou oughtest one daye in 70. yeares how oughtest thou to quake and tremble if the iust shall scarce bee saued where shalte thou poore wretch appeare If the people of Israell trembled at the presence of God on mount Sinai when the Lorde gaue vnto them his lawe and as a Scheolemaister read a lecture to all the world how terrible will his presence bee when hee shall come and exact this lecture at thy handes howe thou hast conned the same If Iohn and Daniel at the sight of a mild Angel fel vpon the earth as dead how shalt thou poore sinner indure the presence of this terrible iudge If Haman could not abide the angrie countenance of King Ahasuerosh how shalt thou O wicked man abide the angrie countenance of this frowning iudge If Adam for the commission of one sinne ranne from god in greate feare and hid himselfe behinde the bush whither shalt thou O sinfull Adamite that haste committed as many sinnes as starres in skye as haires on head and sands by sea Immò horum numerus numero non clauditur vllo Yea the number of them is not to bee numbred whither I say shalte thou desire to runne and where shalte thou wish to hide thy selfe from this terrible iudge O saith Augustine mallent impii esse in inferno quà m videre faciem irati indicis The wicked had rather be tormented in hell than see the face of this feareful iudge Then shalt thou cry to the mountaines Cadite super me Fall vpon mee and to the hilles Abscondite me à facis sedentis super thronum ab ir a agni id est Hide mee from the face of him that sitteth vppon the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. Then shall the booke bee opened videlicet the euidence of thy workes in this life recorded freshly in the testimonye of thyne owne conscience and in the true and infallible memory of Gods eternall wisedome then shall thy sinnes bee sett in order before thyne eyes heauen and earth shall witnesse against thee yea thyne owne conscience shall condemne thee and conscientia est mille testes Thy conscience is a thousand witnesses to condemne thee The Diuell shall pleade hard most pitifull wretche for thy soule and body accusing thee on this manner O iudex iustissime O most iust iudge thou hast in the aboundaunce of thy loue suffered many tormentes of hell vpon the Crosse at Golgotha for the redemption of this wretche thou hast offered him times innumerable redemption iustification and endlesse happinesse yet neuerthelesse hee hath despised thee and hated thy instruction and hath chosen rather to followe mee then thee rather to walke in iniquity after my example then in holynesse of life after thyne hee hath chosen to bee my seruant rather than thyne therefore what remayneth but that thou shouldest refuse him that refused thee and that I should receiue him to euerlasting torments that hath hitherto serued mee When thou poore soule shalte heere this pitifull Plea and confesse the same to bee too true what shall become of thee or whither shalt thou turne thee for comfort Alacke alacke thou shalt haue no hope of saluation for aboue thee thou shalt see the iudge angry with thee for thy sinnes and the blessed Angels reioycing and laughing at thy destruction benethe thee thou shalt see hell open and the fierye fornace ready to receiue thee to torment on thy right hand shall bee thy sinnes accusing thee on thy left hand the diuells readye to execute Gods iudgements vpon thee within thee shall lye thy conscience gnawing without thee the damned crue bewatling on euery side fire burning and then shalt thou receiue this lamentable sentence Goe from mee ye cursed into euerlasting fire which is prepared for the diuell and his Angels Euery one of these wordes are able to cut thy heart a sunder Go from me hitherto I haue beene a Father to thee I haue bestowed many comfortable benefits vppon thee I haue had great care of thee but now goe from mee into torments inexpressible where thou shalt cry vnto mee but I will not beere thee in torment shalt thou lye comfortlesse in hell thy torment shall bee endlesse I will put a gulfe betweene thee and mee to make thy torments remedilesse thou shalt bee dying alwaies yet neuer dead thou shalt seeke death but neuer finde it thou shalt bee burning alwaies yet neuer burnt to death thy meate shall bee griping hunger and famine intollerable thy drinke shall bee lakes of fire and brimstone thy musicke shall bee howling and roaring of crying Diuels and weeping wayling and gnashing of teeth Yee cursed thou hast beene called hitherto by renowned and glorious titles as Prince Duke Noble Reuerend Maister c. but now thou shalt haue an other title thou shalt be called cursed cursed shalt thou be of God whose curse is panarum inflictio id est punishment cursed shalt thou be of all the blessed Angels in heauen whose curse is conscientiae cruciamen id est vexation of thy conscience cursed shalt thou bee of all the diuels in hell whose curse is poenarum executio id est the execution of thy punishment prescribed according to that of the poet Minos examen Radamanthus dat cruciamen tertius heu frater tertia iura tenet id est One diuell rippeth vp thy examination another diuell tormenteth thee the third is not behinde to adde one torment to another vppon thee Cursed moreouer shalte thou bee of all the damned crue whose curse is poenarum aggrauatio id est the augmentation of thy torment thus cursed shalt thou bee of all thinges for euermore Jnto euerlasting fire O miserable torment there were some comforte to the damned soule if these torments should haue end but that shall neuer bee O miserable wretche thou shalt bee bound hand and foote and cast into this euerlasting fire in respect of which fire all earthlye elementall fire is but as fire painted on a wall thy tormentes shall be endlesse easelesse and remedilesse Which is prepared for the diuell and his Angells Heauen was prepared for thee and not Hell thou wert borne to glory and not to torment but because thou hast chosen to followe the Diuell and not mee therefore Goe from mee yee cursed into euerlasting fire which is prepared for the diuell and thee his wicked Angell where thou shalt lye weeping and wailing and gnashing of thy teeth for euermore The consideration of these things shoulde stirre vp euerye Christian to looke about him to
bee carefull and circumspect to all his wayes that hee treade not his shooe awry at any time that he offend not this fearefull iudge in any thing that at this day of iudgment hee may finde him a gentle and louing Lambe and not a Lyon of Iuda for as to the wicked this iudge is terrible so to the godly hee is a friendly and a welcome Iudge as to the wicked the day of iudgement is a daye of desolation a day of cloudes and blacknesse so to the godly it is a day of redemption yea the godly shall leape for ioy at that day and for the comming of that eternall daye the blessed spirits in heauen cry out saying how long Lord and the blessed ones vpon earth desiring the comming of this day also saying with Paule Cupimus dissolui esse cum Christo id est Wee desire to bee dissolued and to bee with Christ and praying with Iohn Veni Domine Iesu Come Lord Jesus come quickly Let euery Christian therefore so lead his life that it may goe well with him at that day What if J haue all the world and loose my soule at that day what doth it profit me If a man be called to appeare before some earthly iudge hee will haue an especial care to array himself in the best manner hee may and to be haue himselfe accordingly that hee may bee the better accepted of him So euery Christian against the daye of iudgement when hee must appeare before the king of Kings and iudge of all the worlde must haue an especiall care to put on the wedding garment of Christs righteousnesse and regeneration least hee bee sent packing to Hell with the wicked and all those that forget God Mordecay because he went basely in sackcloth could not bee permitted to come into the Kings pallace and doest thou thinke whatsoeuer thou art that thou shalt be admitted into the glorious Pallace of the King of heauen hauing on the stinking defiled abhominable garment of impurity and the menstruous cloath of iniquity no no the Lord will spue thee out of his mouthe a stinking carkas stinketh not to before men as a polluted sinner in the nostrells of almighty God Nebuchadnezzar woulde haue no children in his Pallace but those that were wise and beautifull and doest thou think that the King of heaueÌ„ and earth will haue any fooles that is sinners for the sinner is called a foole in the Scripture the fooâ—e â—ath said in his heart there is no God to dwell with him in his Pallace or doest thou think that any vgly person shall bee suffered there that is any sinner for the sinner is an vglye and abhominable thing in the sight of God no the Lord will entertaine none into his kingdome but such as are beautifull shining in holinesse purity and righteousnesse as the portalls of the burnisht sunne such as are without spot or wrinckle Omnino ad imaginem suam altogither like vnto him holy as hee is holy pure as hee is pure such will the Lord haue in his kingdome to sing Halleluiah Saluation and glory and honor and power be to the Lord our God Therefore as the theefe is exceeding prouident and very carefull how hee may aunswere the Iudge at the barre and as in earthlye courtes men will be very carefull to prouide an answere against they bee called yea and will make some friende to the iudge that they may speede the better So likewise euery Christian soule shoulde carefully prouide a good aunswere againste hee bee cited by the Apparitour death to appeare before Christe at the generall Courte of Heauen And that then it may goe well with him let him get some friend to mooue the iudge in his behalfe as he tendereth the welfare of his deare soule and who must that friende bee Not Mary nor Peter but it muste be Christ Iesus that sitteth at the right hand of his father in glory and maketh daily intercession for the sinnes of the whole worlde Get him for thy Proctour who offereth himselfe to al and then happie shalt thou bee the diuel shall not preuaile against thee for Christ hath broken his head the gates of Hell shall not preuaile against thee for Christ hath conquered them and death shall not bolde thee captiue for christ hath ouercome it Happy art thou that art in such a case yea blessed arte thou if thou hast the Lord for thy God Thus much for the third pare of this Text namely of the iudge to whome we must giue an account But I say vnto you that of euery idle word c. 4 When we shall giue an account it is said heer at the day of iudgement The time wheÌ„ this great generall day shal be cannot be known of mortal maÌ„ yea it is not for maÌ„ to know of it as we may read in the Acts It is not for you to know the times seasons which God hath put in his owne power yea Christe himselfe knoweth not of this day But of that day and houre saith Marke knoweth no man no not the Angels which are in heauen neither the Sonne himlelfe saue the Father id est Christe according to his humane nature knoweth not of it but according to his diuine nature he knoweth of it as well as God the Father for he is coequall with God the Father in knowledge wisedome and in all thinges whatsoeuer yea hee knewe of this daye before the foundation of the world was laide yea he himselfe shal sit iudge at the day God will not haue vs know of this daye when it shall bee for these three causes 1 To prooue and trie our patience faith and other vertues to see whether wee will put our whole trust and affiance in him although wee â—â—â—â—…e not the time of our dissolution 2 To bridle our curiositie and peeuish inquisition after such too high matters qua supra nos nihil ad nos that which is aboue our capacitie wee ought not to meddle withall 3 To keepe vs in continuall watchfulnesse for if wee knew certainely the day of death and iudgement surely it would be a greate and forcible motiue to drawe vs to a loose negligent and secure kind of life Watch therfore saith the Euangelist because yee know not when your Maister will come For these three causes the Lord will not haue vs know of the time of iudgement Although my beloued in Christe we know not the certainetie of the time of this day yet neuerthelesse wee muste knowe that this great and general day cannot bee farre off both according to the prophesies of holy Fathers as also to the truth of holy Scriptures Augustine in his booke vpon Genesis against the Manichees saith that the worlde shoulde laste sixe ages the first from Adam to Noah the second from Noah to Abraham the third from Abraham to Dauid the fourth froÌ„ Dauid to the transmigration of Babilon the fifth froÌ„ the
transmigration of Babilon to the comming of Christ in the flâ—sh the sixth from the comming of Christe in the flesh to his comming againe to iudgement So that according to his prophecie wee liue in the last age which last age â— called of Iohn hora extrema or hora nouissima the laste hourâ— but how loÌ„g this last houre doth last he that is α and ω the first the last the euerlasting God alone doth know The Hebrewes they boast of the prophecie of Eliah a great man in those daâ—eâ— hee prophecied that the worlde should last 6000 yearâ—s 2000 before the law 2000 vnder the law and 2000 from Christ to Christe If this his prophecie holdes true the world cannot last 400 yeares for since Christe his comming in the flesh it was 1606. at Christes tide last hast according to the computation of the Church from time to time But leauing men and comming to the Scripturs which cannot erre for HumanuÌ„ est errare Man may yea and doth many times erre Sainte Paule saith to the Corinthians Wee are they vpon whome the ends of the world are come If therefore the ends of the worlde were come vpon theÌ„ that liued aboue 1560. yeares ago then surely doomes day caÌ„not now possibly be far off Iames likewise saith Behold the Iudge standeth before the doore Iohn Baptist preached repentance to the Iewes saying repent for the kingdome of heauen is at hand So that by these places of Scripture it is euident that the generall day of Iudgement is at hand as also by the signes tokens which should goe before this day immediatly of which many yea almost all are already fulfilled Moreouer we must deare brethren know that there is a twofolde iudgement the one called a particuler iudgment the other called a generall iudgment 1 The particular iudgemente is exercised and executed vpon euery man immediatly after death which is segregatio anima a corpore a separation of the soule from the bodie Of this particuler iudgemente wee may reade in the Epistle to the Hebrewes It is appointed vnto men that they shall once die and after that commeth iudgemente And though the generall Iudgement commeth not these 4000. years yet particular iudgment coÌ„meth at the day of our death look as we at the day of our death shal be found so shall we bee iudged and as we then shal be iudged so shall wee bee iudged at the general iudgement 2 The generall iudgementâ— of which this Scripture speaketh is exercised and executed vpon all men together by Christe who shall by his power raise all those vp againe that haue beene dead from the beginning of the world to that time and they shall bee presented all together being againe vnited to theire soules before Christes tribunall seate who shall come downe in a cloude from heauen in greate maiesty and glory with thousands of blessed Angels attending vpon him and hee shall giue sentence vpon all in generall the wicked shall be cast into euerlasting fire the godly he shall carry vp with him into caelum Empiraeum the third and highest heauen where he nowe in bodie reigneth remaineth there to reape ioyes vnspeakable for euermore But some man may obiecte and say why I pray you shall there bee a generall iudgement when as all are iudged in the particuler iudgement what shall thee be two iudgements executed There shal notwithstanding the particulâ—r be a generall iudgemente and that for three causes 1 Because in the particuler iudgemeÌ„t the faule of man is iudged onely but then both soule bodie shall be iudged 2 In the particuler iudgemeÌ„t the soule onely is either rewarded or punished but then both soule bodie either shal be rewarded with ioyes or punished with torments 3 There shall be a generall iudgmeÌ„t to declare to all the worlde assembled then together the iuste iudgemente of god that he hath iustly saued the godly iuâ—ly condeÌ„ned the wicked yea the uery wicked themselues shal confes no lesse By reason of this generall iudgement some light braine hereticks their bee the say that ther is no particular iudgmeÌ„t at al that the soul immediatlâ— after death is not iudged for wheras it is said hodie mecuÌ„eris in paradiso to day shalte thou be with me in paradise the speech of our sauiour to the theef they take that word hodie id est to day for 1000 years bring for proofe hereof that place of the Psalmist A thousand yeeres in thy sighte are as yesterday But to answere them this place of Scripture is not so to bee vnderstood as that a thousand yeares shoulde bee taken for a day or a day for a thousand yeares for hee saith not a thousand yeares are a daye but a thousand yeares in the sighte of God that is in respecte of the eternity and euerlastingnesse of god are as a day It is therefore spoken on this manner to expresse the eternitie of God as if hee should say a thousand yeares with man in respect of the eternity of God are but as a daye for as many as are haue beene and euer shall bee the daies of man so many thousand yea so many thousand thousands yeeres is the eternity of God he is-and-the first and the last before all beginnings and shall neuer haue ending Againe they alledge that place of Genesis In that day that thou eatest therof namely of the forbidden fruite thou shalt die the death Now saith the heretique that day they died not but liued many hundred yeers after therfore by a day is vnderstood many hundred yeers But I answer that that day wherin Adam did eat of the forbidden fruit euen that day did hee dye that is that day by sinne hee was separated from God then the which separation no death is greater for Vt vita corporis est anima ita vita animae est deus tolle animaÌ„ perit corpus tolle deuÌ„ moritur animae id est As the soule is the life of the body so God is the life of the soule take away the soule the body dieth take away God the soule is dead So that Adam that day died in soule being separated from the Lord yea that day Adam was made subiect to death in this life and in the life to come that day he had the beginnings of death seasing vppon him for hee was presently cast out of Paradise into the ragged world he was cursed and all his posterity yea hee should haue gone to hell had not the second Adam broken the head of the subtile serpent that inticed him to sin Yea the thiefe vpon the crosse had Paradise that day in soule in which he suffered in body although he had it not in so full measure as hee shall at the generall day when his soule shall take vnto it the body againe hodie to daie thy soule with my soule shall be in Paradise that is in