Saint Paul doth proue this with many reasons 1 Cor. 15. If the dead rise not againe then is not Christ risen And if Christ be not risen then is our Preaching vaine c. And why should we thinke it impossible for God to raise our bodies out of the dust Wee see a poore ignorant man is able of Ashes to make a verie beautiful Glasse How much more then is the Euer-liuing and almighty God able to raise our bodies out of the dust But you will say are mens bodies eaten of fishes men eate them againe How is it possible to saue the bodies of men thus consumed to dust and mingled with the bodies of fishes and of beasts I answere that though it be impossible to men yet it is not impossible to God For he that created all our bodies of nothing can make them againe of something namely of their owne matter and to seuer their bodies from all other matters As wee see that a Gold-smith can seuer one matter from another So then this place doth proue and confirme that Article of our faith that wee beleeue the Resurrection of the dead For howsoeuer a man dieth by Sea or by Land in his bed or in the field Saint Iohn saith heere the Sea shall giue vp all that haue beene drowned death and hell that is the Graue shall deliuer the dead in them so as all must come to Iudgement of what death soeuer they die O then see beloued how the diuel bewitcheth many a poore ignorant soule Vse When he is in miserie in great distresse and calamitie the Diuell hee perswadeth him to become his owne executioner to end his misery and to end his shame by hanging himselfe cutting his owne throate drowning himselfe c. And wee know and heare that hee preuaileth much by these meanes in these dayes Some being in disgrace as Achitophel some with the guilt of sinne and of conscience as Iudas and some being crossed with wife and children cut their throates or otherwise make an end of themselues Now they foolishly thinke by this means to end their griefe Alas alas they do by this means euen hasten their ovvne destruction And doe as if a man should to auoyd a little smoake cast himselfe head-long into a flaming fire So they to auoyd this little griefe of their body plunge body and soule into eternal torments For what ease is it for a man to kill himselfe or cast away himselfe seeing they must come to Iudgement though they kill themselues or drowne themselues Why the water and the Graue must one day deliuer vp their dead And therefore hence let vs learne to arme our selues if Sathan shall tempt vs to such horrible facts to cast away our selues c. Let vs answere him Wee may not cast away that which Christ hath bought with his owne bloud Nay let vs answere him That wee shall not thereby end our miserie but encrease it Now if you demand of me by what meanes the dead shall then arise at the last day I answer It is by the mighty power of the voice of CHRIST The houre shall come saith CHRIST in the which all that are in the Graues shall heare the voyce of the Sonne of God and come forth Iohn 5.28 And to shew the wonderful power of the voice of Christ it is compared to the sound of a Trumpet the lowdest and the shrillest of all Instruments And the Lord Iesus himselfe shall descend and come with a shout 1 The. 4.16 and with the voyce of the Archangell and with the Trumpet of God and then the dead in Christ shall arise first Such shall bee the power force of this voice of the Lord IESVS as that it shal be heard ouer all the whole world Nay though men haue laine many a thousand yeares rotten in the Graue yet they shall heare it and come forth to iudgement Nay the very diuels and damned spirits in spite of their teeth shall be constrained to appeare at his Voyce No Prince no Monarch no King no Angell shall bee able to absent themselues but they must all bee enforced to obey the Voyce of the Sonne of GOD and come to Iudgement Vse O then seeing wee must all heare the voice of the Lord IESVS at the day of Iudgement and wee cannot but come forth of our Graues vnto Iudgement Oh let vs now obey his Voyce in the Ministerie of the Gospel now embrace the Gospell and the voyce of his Ministers If wee will not now leaue sinne heare CHRIST IESVS speaking vnto vs in his Word and embrace his Gospell then let vs well know that wee shall one day heare another Voice when wee shal be compelled to come before him to be condemned Thus you may see that all the dead must arise and come to Iudgement and you see how and by what meanes our bodies shall be raised namely by the mighty and the wonderfull power of the voice of the Lord Iesus Let vs now come to the Vses First seeing of vvhat death soeuer men shall die either by fire or water or howsoeuer they must one day come to iudgement Let vs then beware of that vngodly thought and diuelish perswasion that runnes in most mens minds namely that thinke that when they die there is an end of all their miserie And though they haue beene grieuous and horrible sinners yet if they can escape till death all is well And thus they thinke that they and their sinnes shall be buried together No no poore soules they doe much deceiue themselues Howsoeuer thou diest thou shalt come to iudgement And death is so farre from ending thy misery that it is a broade gate to let thee in into it Luke 16. For so soone as the Glutton died hee was presently in hel in torment And therefore let vs take heed how we wish as foolish men do in their sicknesse or age or miserie O I would I were dead then I should bee out of my paine O no no if thou bee not the child of God and a repentant sinner it had beene better for thee neuer to haue beene borne or to bee a Toade or Serpent And thou shalt finde that death is so farre from easing thy paine that it shall bring thee ten thousand times more paine and torment euen in hell fire for euer Therefore let vs not thinke that death shall end the miseries of wicked men Secondly seeing all men must rise to iudgement and by what meanes soeuer they die they must bee called to accompt this is a wonderfull comfort to Gods poore children Who abides more trouble and griefe then they Who be more hated reuiled crossed and wronged then they So as their life here for the most part is nothing else but a life of miserie But their comfort is heere in this that they shall rise againe and then the case shall bee altered then our miserie shall bee turned into felicitie ioy and happinesse Hast thou beene poore heere then thou shalt bee rich and
fauour he is with-holden sometimes bribes blind his eies and peruert the right sentence But it shall not be so with this Iudge of the whole world His sentence is a righteous sentence he will iudge according to trueth he is able to finde out any cause and will examine it to the bottome hee feareth no mans person he will not be moued with fauor to conceale the truth And as for rewards hee contemnes them all therefore no doubt hee will proceede according to iustice This serueth for the comfort Vse 1 of Gods people in this world we see oftentimes the righteous cause is troden vnder foot mens lands and liuings are detained and taken from them by vnrighteous Iudges and that vnder colour of Law Well let men haue patience and know this that there wil come a day wherin there shal be Iustice and true Iudgement doone vnto them Here thy cause shall be heard it shal be righted for Christ Iesus will bee a righteous Iudge for the poore the fatherlesse and the widow Againe we see how the members of CHRIST which make conscience of sinne and care of their liues to heare the word and to walke accordingly they be disgraced and despised of the world Well let vs learn here to possesse our soules with patience for there will come a day of reckoning when as our righteous cause will bee heard and we shall haue iustice and all the contemners of Christ Iesus and persecutors of his poore members shall feele the smart of it Vse 2 Secondly seeing Christ Iesus the Iudge commeth thus with might and Maiestie not as a Sauiour or Mediator but as a Iudge It must admonish all men and women now to repent and turne vnto God in the time of mercy Esay 55.6 to seeke the Lorde while he may be found and to call vpon him while hee is neere Now while we liue Iesus Christ commeth vnto vs by his Ministers as a Sauiour to saue our Soules in mercie to bring vs to Repentance But after this life hee will no more come as a Sauiour or a Mediator but as a mightie Iudge full of Maiestie full of Might Power and Glory And therefore looke how men die so shall the Iudge finde them If thou die in thy sinnes and doest not repent and seeke for pardon at the hand of the Iudge whilest thou liuest heere There is no hope of mercy after death For how death leaueth thee so shall iudgement finde thee Cain died many thousand yeares agoe and Iudas in their sins so shall the last day find them For after death there is no mercy but iustice and iudgement And one fitting thereon NOw who this is which sate vppon this Great White Throne The Person of the Iudge described Reu. 14.14 you may see in the Reuelation of Saint Iohn the foureteenth chapter and the foureteenth verse I sawe a White Cloud and one sitting on it like the Sonne of man hauing on his head a golden Crowne and in his hand a sharpe Sickle So that wee see that it is the Sonne of man euen CHRIST IESVS GOD and man that shal be the iudge And so doth Saint Mathew call him Mat. 25.31 When the Sonne of man cometh in his glorie and all his holie Angells with him then shall hee sit vpon the Throne of his glorie And againe he titles him by the name of a King Verse 24. Then shall the King say to them on his right hand c. This is taught by the Apostle Wee must all appeare before the iudgement seate of Christ .1 Cor. 5.10 True it is that our Sauiour Christ is King Priest and Prophet a true Prophet in whom vvas contayned all the secrets and whole counsell of God A true high Priest whose Sacrifice alone was able to put avvay the sinnes of the vvhole world But when he comes in the Throne of his Maiestie to iudge the quicke and the dead he shall not come as Priest or Prophet for these Offices of Christ are finished For his Propheticall Office he hath sufficiently reuealed the whole counsell of God his Father to his Church and People First by his holy Prophets then by himselfe after by his Apostles and Minsters And therefore seeing that his Prophetical Office is finished he calles not himselfe a Prophet but a King Againe CHRIST IESVS our Priest hauing once for all offered vp that Propiciatory Sacrifice for the sinnes of all the Elect now this Office of a Priest is likewise finished and this Sacrifice must be no more iterated and repeated But now hee commeth as a King in all Maiestie and Glorie For though his Propheticall and Priestlie Office be accomplished yet his Princely Office is not finished But now CHRIST IESVS the Iudge of quicke and dead shall beginne to manifest himselfe to be a King to all Nations to men and Angells Novv shall hee shevv himselfe to be King of Kings and Lord of Lords full of all Diuine and Heauenly power and glory For that now at the name of CHRIST euery knee shall bow When our Sauiour IESVS CHRIST liued on earth he came in misery very base and lowly euery childe durst look him in the face Then euery base fellow euery sinfull wretch durst mock him and spit in his face Herod and Pontius Pilate and the rabble of the Iews durst then vse him at their pleasure But now Hee shall come as a King full of maiestie and glorie guarded and attended vpon with many thousands of heauenly Souldiours euen all his holie Angells and then he will make Herod and Pontius Pilate yea the greatest Kings and Monarchs to stoope Nay then all his enemies shall tremble and quake Zach. chap. 12 ver 10. and not dare to open their mouthes against him Oh then what a terrour may this bee to all vvicked and vngodlie sinners that liue in sinne to see him come in that wonderfull Maiestie to be their Iudge whom they haue contemned vvhose members they haue persecuted and whose word and glorious Gospel they haue not regarded but troden vnder foot for he shall come with a sharpe two-edged Sword to cut them in peeces and a consuming fire to burne vp all vngodlie sinners And as hee is a King to the vvicked so is hee a King to the godlie Hee alone hath the Scepter of Dauid to the endlesse comfort of those that bee the children of his Kingdome For who is it that curbs Leuiathan snaffles the Diuell brideleth his force and malice Surely this our King Who is it that cuts the throate of sinne in his members and taketh away the strength of sinne Surelie this King of Kings Who breaketh the brasse barres of Death and pulleth out the sting of Death Our sinnes that they sting not our soules to the eternall death None can doe that but this our King CHRIST IESVS Who opens the gate of heauen who puts his spirit into the hearts of his children making them to crie Abba Father to lift vp their soules and with ioy to long
For then thy conscience will accuse and lay to thy charge euery one of them in order Thou hast set my misdeeds before me and my secret sins in the sight of thy countenance saith Dauid Againe in the heart of man what anger what enuy what malice lurke therein and they passe it ouer and thinke it no matter Well know beloued that vnlesse you repent of the very thoughts of the hearts euen these things will be found written in the bookes at the day of Iudgement and what a lamentable thing will that be 2. Our thoughts Secondly as conscience is priuie to all our thoughts and wil accuse vs of them at the day of Iudgement so all our speeches are noted therein What a number of wicked speeches passe out of the mouth of wicked and vaine men and women what horrible and blasphemous oathes what cursed speaking lying and slaundering Now a wicked person that thus abuseth his tongue so many thousand times in a day he cannot for his life remember them VVell know that euerie sinnefull word thou speakest is written in this booke there it is recorded and when this Booke of thy conscience shall be opened it will discouer all thy sinnes not onely thy filthy thoughts but euery wicked word Our Sauiour tels vs Mat. 12.36 that we must giue an account of euery wicked word at the day of â—udgement For though men labour to forget them yet they are written in their consciences one day shall come to iudgement O how this should awaken vs all and cause vs to looke vnto our liues to make a couenant with our eyes as Iob did and to set a watch before our mouths as Dauid did and to lay aside our vaine oathes and idle mirth which as Salomon saith cannot want iniquitie seeing one day they must all of them come to iudgement 3 Our workes Thirdly if we come vnto the liues of men and women why alas they bee nothing almost but a continuall practise of sin as the sinnes of mens liues they bee innumerable euen as the Sands on the Sea shore Now though mens liues abound with so many thousand sinnes yet we see man perceiues not nor knowes not one quarter of his sinnes It may be hee knoweth some but alas they forget the greatest part of them But yet they be all written in this booke of thy Conscience and they shall all come to Iudgement When these Bookes shall bee read then all thy sinnes shall be made manifest though neuer so secret for thy Conscience doth marke them all and pen them downe against this day of account Now seeing what is meant by this booke our Conscience and likevvise what bee written in them euen all our thoughts words and workes let vs come to see what vse wee are to make of this Doctrine first Hence first of all wee may obserue the endlesse loue and mercie of our God towards vs foretelling euery Vse 1 one of vs novv of the opening of these Bookes that our consciences shall be layd open these Bookes vnclasped and all our thoughts words and works must come to iudgement Surely it is to this end and purpose that we might preuent the danger that is to come and labour to keep a good conscience washed and purged in the bloud of Christ that it may not lay to our charge any one sinne but assure vs that we are in the fauor of God Vse 2 Secondly we see here that it is not enough for a man or a woman to abstayne from euill wordes and workes but euill thoughts likewise the very lust of the heart Paul complaines of this Rom. 7. and Peter bids Simon Magus to repent and pray Actes 8. if perhaps the thoughts of his heart might be pardoned I doubt not but the children of God are carefull ouer their very thoughts For a wicked carnal man may abstaine from some grieuous sinnes But it is a note of the true childe of GOD to repent of his euill thoughts and to be carefull ouer them Thirdly seeing euery mans Vse 3 conscience is this booke and euery mans sin is penned downe therein we may see the wofull misery of all those that haue defiled consciences filthy and vncleane hearts For looke how their consciences doe accuse them euen so will God condemne And hauing not repented of their sinnes they carry a tormentor within them namely a guilty and an accusing conscience which is their Iudge to condemne them and their hell to torment them Vse 4 Fourthly seeing the bookes must be opened and euery mans conscience must come to scanning because sentence shall passe and iudgement shall bee awarded accordyng to the things written in euery mans conscience How should this cause vs all both Minister and people to labour to get a good conscience If thy conscience be good thou shalt not faile to bee blessed if thy conscience be filthy and polluted thou art accursed The mean to get a good conscience And therefore it should bee our chiefest care our chiefest study and our chiefest desire all our life time to keepe a good conscience Now if you aske how is it possible to get a good conscience I answere for the getting and keeping of faith and a good conscience we must know that it is done by the vse of the word of God Ioh. 17. Sanctifie them by thy Trueth Thy word is the Trueth All graces of Gods spirit are wrought by his word But that wee may get a good conscience we must First repent of all our sinnes wee must know by the Lawe of God what is sin what is not Secondly we must know the heauie curse of GOD euen for sinne that the reward of sinne is death eternall both of Bodie and Soule For men doe by nature blesse themselues in their sinnes and though we heare of Gods Iudgements against sin yet whose heart is touched and troubled Thus men runne on still in sinne and feare nothing They meane well they say but yet liue ill and thinke all is well Thirdly til we see what sinne is and then see the curse of God due to sinne we shall neuer seriously try our consciences and see how our sins haue wounded them that so we may repent vs of sinne Fourthly we must be grieued for our sinnes wee must acknowledge and confesse them begging for pardon of them and to hunger and thirst after Christ Iesus For there is nothing that can purifie the conscience and quiet the heart but onely the bloud of Iesus Christ applied to our soules by Faith with perswasion of the forgiuenesse of them Marke heere then beloued when a man is thus humbled for his sinnes and beggeth the pardon of them earnestly with sighes and groanes then will the Lord send downe into his soule his blessed Spirit to assure vs of gods mercy of the pardon of our sinnes that our wounds in conscience are healed and this is done by the meanes of Faith Acts 15.9 which purifies the conscience Hereby we
himselfe in a Vision and sheweth after what manner we shal be all iudged Euen according to those things written in the Booke according vnto our workes You haue heard before that hee saw all both great and small stand before God none shall bee wanting or absent themselues Now it might bee wondered how this great multitude shall bee iudged how euerie mans Booke should bee read and euerie mans cause should bee tryed For wee see what a long time it holdes our Iudges heere to trie a few persons such calling for Euidences such prouing of witnesses such preferring of Inditements But Saint Iohn saith It shall not bee so heere for all must proceed according to the written Records And according to these things which bee written in the Booke So as when Christ Iesus the great Iudge shall once sit vpon the Throne of his Glorie attended by his holy Angells then shall the Bookes of euerie mans conscience bee opened and then they shal afresh call to minde all their sinnes In these words we are to obserue three speciall points Parts of the Text. First who they are that must come to this Iudgement namely the dead euen they which haue lien many thousand years rotten in the graue Secondly the means whereby they must be tryed euen by those things which bee written and recorded in their Bookes Thirdly the Touch-stone of this tryall namely the written word of God And first of the persons It is not to bee doubted but that Saint Iohn meaneth that all must come to Iudgement Both great and small must stand before God But why doth he say heere And the dead shall bee iudged It is to be obserued that he names so expresly the dead euen those which haue lyen rotting so many thousand yeares must come to Iudgement they must be called to accompt yea their olde sinnes must be now brought to light For this is rhe wicked thoughts of many carnall men that when a man is dead hee is well then all his sinnes die with him hee is forgotten and his sinnes are not spoken of But Saint Iohn saith heere that euen the dead must come to iudgement euen their olde sinnes must come to light and they must answer for them It is nigh sixe thousand yeares since Caine slew his brother yet this sin of his is not forgotten though Caine bee dead so long since yet his sins are not dead No no Caine one day shall come to accompt for his sinne Iudas he did for vile lucre sell his Maister many hundreds of yeares agoe hee is dead and gone but at this day hee shall be called to accompt So in our dayes many men thinke when they die their sins shall neuer be brought to light The Vsurer hee getteth his goods by wicked and vngodly meanes he groweth in wealth when hee dieth hee thinkes hee shall neuer heare of this sinne agayne So the Drunkard Swearer Profaner of the Lords Sabboth c. they are persvvaded that death will end all their miserie Ah poore soules it were well with them indeede if death might end their wofull miserie But alas alas death is euen as a wide Gate to let them haue some passage to endlesse woe and miserie For when they be dead and buried their sins doe not die with them their misery is not then ended O no then begins their endlesse miserie torment Oh it were good they might haue no more being after death It had beene good for such men they had neuer beene borne or being borne that they had been made rather a Toade or a Serpent for in death they haue an end But it is not so with a filthy and and vngodly sinner For when hee is dead and buried euen then beginnes his greatest woe and misery for euen the sinner that is dead a many thousand yeares must for all this come to iudgement And therefore thou that liuest in sinne in adultery c. remember that although thou die yet thy sinnes doe not die with thee No no both thou and they must one day come to iudgement thy old sinnes and those which thou hast committed in secret they must come now to light Seeing that the dead must come to Iudgement Vse that haue laine a many hundred yeares in the graue and then their old sinnes and secret sinnes must come to light Oh let vs then watch ouer our liues and haue this still in our mindes Well though I die and rotte in the Graue yet my sinnes shall not die my euill wayes cannot be buryed they must come to light that so wee may neuer dare to sinne thinking as many doe that when they be once dead they shall neuer come to accompt for their sinnes But Saint Iohn sayth heere that the dead were iudged euen those whom wee forgot and whose sinnes wee would thinke would neuer be called to accompt euen they must come to a reckoning In the next place Saint Iohn tells vs how all men shall be tryed and according to what Sentence shall bee avvarded Namely according to those things Written in their Bookes Heere is the Euidence heere is no witnesse to bee produced for a mans conscience shall bee euen as good as a thousand witnesses Novv what is heere meant by the bookes you haue heard already namely the particular Conscience of euerie man and woman Thy conscience is the Booke that is the Euidence No other witnesse shall bee produced but euen thy owne conscience Againe the things which be written in these Bookes I told you they be all our thoughts wordes and workes not onely our grosse sinnes as murder c. but in our Bookes bee recorded euen our idle and vaine words euery vile and filthy thought and by these Sentence must proceede and according to these must Iudgement be awarded Now then those which haue good thoughts yea and holie things written in their Bookes they be blessed and happie for they shall not be ashamed nay they shall be glad to haue their Bookes layd open that their repentance their faith loue zeale and patience c. might bee knowne and come to light But woe then to all filthie sinners adulterers c. For the reward of these sinnes is death the wrath and curse of God for euer Vse Seeing that heere is the Euidence and by the things written in our Bookes in our consciences we must be arraigned and seeing in our Bookes bee recorded all that we do all our words thoughts and deedes First it must teach vs aboue all things to looke to our Bookes our consciences to keepe them very faire and cleane that our Bookes of Accompts bee in a readinesse For our consciences shall eyther excuse or accuse vs at the day of Iudgement Acts 24. This was the care of the blessed Apostle saint Paul Acts 24 in regard of this that wee must all come vnto iudgement and our consciences must be layed open and wee iudged according to the things therein recorded it made this holie seruant of God to take all
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
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
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
contemne the Word of GOD profane the Lords Sabboth that make no conscience at all of drunkennesse c. what a treasure of plagues the Lord hath reserued for the damned Oh let vs thinke often of this that these torments bee both endlesse and easelesse Oh what madde men and women what fooles be wee if wee will now enioy the pleasures of sinne for a season and then to lie in torments for euer What shall it benefite or profite vs to enioy a litle worldly pelfe mony lands or liuings heere to liue in all pleasures delights some sixtie or eightie yeares and then to be tormented in hell fire for euermore And yet doe we see that such is the extreame follie and madnes of many men that they will haue their penyworths heere though they pay neuer so deare for it in the life which is to come Thirdly these torments as they be endlesse and easelesse so they be remedilesse This we may beholde in the Glutton in hell who would haue giuen a world if hee had beene owner of it and yet for all that could he not haue it it was then denied him For there is no ease nor remedy in hell no redemption after death no siluer nor golde no witte nor policie no appealing to another Iudge but hee must lie by it for euermore euen in this close prison till he haue paid the debt and vttermost farthing For if all the Saints and Angells in the Kingdome of heauen should fall at the feete of Christ to begge but for one soule it could do him no good CHRIST would deny them al they must haue the repulse O consider this this is it that ought to make all men to quake and all hearts to tremble that in hell is no ease nor hope of redemption This is that which makes the deuils and damned spirits to feare and to tremble and yet it cannot moue flintie and stonie-hearted sinners once to be afraid O I beseech you let vs thinke of these things now in these daies of mercie now is remedie to bee had now wee may auoide this woefull miserie now wee may escape this fearefull torment If wee will now repent if we will now leaue our sinnes and begge pardon of almighty God for them we may escape but after death there is no time of mercie but iudgement and torment but fire and brimstone and the wrath of God for euermore And therefore now let vs repent let vs bewaile our sinnes and liue as the seruants of God and not as the slaues of sinne and Sathan any longer and then the gates of hell shall not preuaile against vs. Our Sauiour Christ tels vs Mat. 16.26 that the soule of a poore begger is more worth then many thousand worlds And therefore the losse of a soule is greater then the losse of the whole world If a man should loose House Land Wife Childe and all hee hath yet it is nothing in comparison of his soule that is a losse of all losses to bee seuered from God and from Christ and to bee in hell torments for euer O then let vs know what our soules bee worth let vs learne to prize them aboue the whole world But alas men can not so esteeme of them Oh no men will for one penny or an houres pleasure hazard losse of soule and bodie for euermore Ah poore soule thou didst neuer yet know what thy soule is worth Christ Iesus sayth it is more worth then all the world Oh let vs so esteeme of it and value it and account all riches pleasures or profites as dung so that our soules our poore soules may be saued in the day of our Lord. The end of the fourth Sermon A FOLD FOR Christs Sheepe Deliuered in two Sermons vpon the first Chapter of the CANTICLES vers 6.7 BY SAMVEL SMITH Minister of the Word of GOD at Prittlewell in Essex ESAY 55.3 Hearken and your soule shall liue LONDON Printed by NICHOLAS OKES 1617. ⧠TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVL AND VERtuous Gentlewoman Mistresse MARY BVTLER of Tooby SAMVEL SMITH wisheth al Grace Prosperitie and true comfort in this life and eternall happinesse in the life to come THe Booke of the holy Scripture Right Worshipfull is as the Princely Prophet Dauid calleth it Ps 119 125 A Lanthorne to our feet and a Light to our Paths The Elect of God are therein enlightened and taught of God through the inward operation of Gods Spirit Iohn 6. the knowledge thereof hath beene deare and pretious vnto the Godly Paul that sanctified Vessell of the Lord did esteeme all things else but Dung in comparison of it Phil. 3.8 Moses regarded not the pleasures he might haue enioyed in king Pharaohs Court Heb. 11.24 in comparison of this And Dauid preferred the Office of a Dore-keeper in Gods house Psal 84.12 before the chiefest Pallaces heere below This was that that Salomon the wisest did ayme at especially 1. Reg. 3.5.9 hauing his choice of many things offered him from God and no maruell though the children of God do prefer the choice of it before all other inward things whatsoeuer because our Sauiour will teach vs that the knowledge thereof will bring a man to Life Eternall Iohn 17.3 Jt will safely conduct a man to God his kingdome and make him decline from the by-waies of sinne and error which leade to destruction Heere is Milke for Babes and strong meate for men of riper yeares so that none that are inuited to this Feast but may finde some refreshing Yet notwithstanding that this is the excellencie of the holie Scriptures and that this hath beene the choice of God his seruants in all ages to prefer the knowledge of it before all things and to conforme theyr liues thereunto The Papists the malicious ennemies of Gods truth will notwithstanding shew themselues to be of the Serpenticall broode Gene. 3.15 euer treading on the heele of God his church euen with their Templum Domini Ieremy 7. Templum Domini the Church the Church as if the church-Keyes hung euer at their girdle These their paynted shewes of piety and holinesse hath caused many to stagger in the way of godlinesse who haue not taken deepe roote in christian profession Let such with a single eye reade ouer these two sermons where they shall finde a Fold pitcht for all Christ his Sheepe The true church made knowne from the flockes of his Companions which howsoeuer they come with Iesus Iesus in their mouthes yet doe deny the power of godlinesse seeking vtterly to extinguish the light of Gods truth that it may not shine vnto men Indeed a palpable darkenesse hath yet ouerspread all the Dominions of that Romish Pharaoh more palpable then the darkenesse of Aegypt but the Truth shall preuaile maugre the spite and malice of Antichrist and all that bloudie Crew And the Bright Beames of the gospell shall dispell those foggie mists of Poperie and Jgnorance when the pride of the Whoore of Rome is once at
THE GREAT ASSIZE OR DAY OF IVBILEE Deliuered in foure Sermons vpon the 20. chapter of the Reuel ver 12.13.14.15 Whereunto are annexed two Sermons vpon the 1. chapter of the Canticles verse 6.7 The second Impression corrected and amended by the Authour SAMVEL SMITH Minister of the word of God at Prittlewell in Essex Math. 12.36 I say vnto you That of euery idle word that men shall speake they shall giue an account thereof at the day of Iudgement LONDON Printed by NICHOLAS OKES 1617. ⧠TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVL AND VERtuous Gentlewoman Mistresse IANE ELIOT of Newland Hall SAMVEL SMITH wisheth the encrease of all true comfort in this life and eternall happinesse in the next RIGHT Worshipful the Apostle Paul hath told vs That In the last dayes shall come perillous times For men shall bee louers of their owne selues couetous boasters prowd cursed speakers Disobedient to parents vnthankefull vnholie without Natural affection Truce-breakers false accusers intemperate fierce no Louers at all of them which are good traytours heady high-minded Louers of pleasures more then louers of God hauing a shew of godlinesse but yet denie the power thereof And they are the words of our Sauiour himselfe that as it was in the dayes of Noah So shall the comming of the Son of man be And againe vvhen the Sonne of man commeth shall hee finde Faith vpon earth When were these perilous times Saint Peter speaketh of if not now When was there the like securitie When gaue men themselues ouer to their owne hearts lust more then now By the which then wee see that we are they Vpon whom the ends of the world are come and that wee must all shortly be called to accompt for these things The Nineuites fast and repent the Publicans do feare and quake when Ionas cryeth to the one and Iohn to the other of iudgement to come Ahab is humbled and Felix trembles when from Elias and Paule they heare of death and Judgement yet alas where is the man among vs that thinkes of these things Doe not men crie Peace peace till destruction come vpon them as the Trauell vpon a woman with childe Shee thinketh not of the paine vntill it come and they thinke not of this day of reckoning till it come This is the security of our Age so that we may now looke for an end to be put vnto these sinnefull daies for vvhat are they but the fore-runners of that last and dreadfull day The Lord make vs wise betimes that we may think of that Great Assise and the account that we are then to make I haue heere endeauoured in a weake measure to vnfold the Doctrine of the day of Judgement the which J here present vnto your Worship in regard of the demonstration of my vnfained thankefulnes for your extraordinary kindnesse bestowed vpon me As also in regard of the great affection and good deuotion you beare to the Truth Accept therfore I pray you what is heere offred vnto you and take in good part my indeuour therein so I humbly take my leaue Resting Your Worships in all Christian duetie to be commanded SAMVEL SMITH ⧠To the Christian Reader Grace and Peace from IESVS CHRIST the Prince of Peace CHristian Reader I present heere vnto thy view the third publique fruite of my Ministerie wherein I haue endeuoured that those especially of mine owne Hearers might a second time take notice of my Exercises that in publike I deliuered vnto them The night commeth when no man can worke therefore it stands vs all in hand both Minister and People to esteeme of Time as the most precious thing in the world and the rather because we know not how soone we shall be called to an account of our Works Many haue had many times many good purposes of hart to cleaue vnto the Lord that haue beene preuented by Death for want of timely Repentance It shall then be our wisedome To agree with our Aduersarie while wee are in the way with him for if wee be but once arrested by Death we shall be sure to pay the vtmost farthing Vse this as a help vnto thee to better thee in the performance of that dutie which concerns thee so nearly That thou must one day giue an accompt of thy Workes If thou reape any benefit by it giue the praise vnto God from whom euery good perfect gift proceedeth and help me in thy praiers which I shall take as a full recompence of all my Labours and be encoraged to spend some houres more in the like dueties for thy good In the meane time I remaine Thine in the common Sauiour SAMVEL SMITH THE GREAT ASSIZE The first Sermon REVEL 20.11.12 c. 11 And I sawe a great white Throne and him that sate on it from whose Face fled away both the Earth and the Heauen and their place was no more found 12 And I saw the dead both small and great stand before God and the Bookes were opened and another book was opened which is the book of Life the dead vvere iudged of those things vvhich vvere vvritten in the books according to their deeds 13 And the Sea gaue vp her dead which were in her and Death and Hell deliuered vp the dead that were in them and they were iudged euery man according to his deeds 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire this is the second death 15 And whosoeuer was not found written in the booke of life was cast into the lake of fire HAVING spoken not long since of the Comming of CHRIST into his Garden Cant. 5.1 or into his Church and of his kinde and princely offers vnto vs suing for entertainment at our hands being his first comming vnto vs heere in this vale of Teares I thought it verie necessarie to speake something of his second comming that those that will not be moued with the former might be terrified with the latter To which purpose I haue made choyce of this place of Scripture in which this matter as you see is at large described with many necessary circūstances needfull to be knowne and learned of euerie one of vs all For heere the second comming of Christ is reuealed to Saint Iohn in a vision from Heauen euen in that manner in which Christ will come at the last day For these fiue Verses containe in them nothing else but a liuely and heauenly description of the second coming of Christ to Iudgement with all the circumstances belonging to the same The parts of the Text. For first if you would know with what Maiestie Power Integritie Seueritie and Terrour this great Iudge will come you may see the person of the Iudge described in the first verse of this present Text. Secondly if you would vnderstand what persons must be cited and summoned who must appeare Saint Iohn saith heere he Sawe the dead both great and small stand before the Iudge all that euer are that haue been or shall bee vnto the end of the
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
Note is it meate and drinke vnto thee to doe the will of Christ Is thy hand euer ready according to thy abilitie to bestow any thing vpon Christ for the aduancement of his glory Doest thou labour in the place vvherein thou liuest to aduance the glorious Gospell of Iesus Christ Canst thou bee content to vndergoe shame disgrace trouble persecution and bonds yea death it selfe for Christs sake Doth the remembrance of his comming to Iudgement cheere vp thy heauy soule And doest thou cry with the spouse of Christ Come Lord Iesus come quickly These bee markes and tokens whereby thou maist discerne whether thou dost loue Christ Iesus yea or no. But because all men are ready to say that they loue Christ or else it were pitty they should liue and the like when indeed the loue of Christ is not in them Markes to discerne our loue to Christ I will yet proceed a little further and obserue a few notes and markes of this pure and hearty loue to Christ which are most certaine signes of grace 1. By our loue to his word First if wee loue Christ wee will loue his word delight in it and esteeme it aboue gold and pretious stones Psal 119.67 Lord what loue haue I vnto thy word saith Dauid all the day long is my study in it Yea it is altogether impossible for a man to be religious to feare God and to loue him that hath no sound loue nor delight in the word of God so that by our loue to his word wee may iudge of our loue to Christ No loue nor delight in the word surely no loue nor delight in Christ great loue to the word great loue to Christ In the valewing of this pearle Dauids practise is notable who made the Testimonies of God his heritage Verse 111. and the very ioy of his heart and esteemed them aboue gold yea aboue fine gold And therefore seeing most men haue no delight in the word seldome or neuer heare it vnlesse it be for fashion sake read it or meditate in it day or night it is a certaine token that the loue of Christ is not in them 2. By our loue to his Saints Secondly if wee loue Christ Iesus with all our heart we will loue those whom he loues his blessed members true Christians 1. Iohn 3. Hereby saith Saint Iohn wee know that we are translated from darknesse into light because we loue the brethren Dauid testifies of himselfe Al my delight is vpon thy Saints It is our duty to loue all but wee must loue the Saints with a peculiar and speciall loue as heires with Christ and members of the same body with vs. Therefore seeing men generally hate the members of Christ contemne them and despise them doth not this make it verie apparent that the loue of Christ is not in them For the world loues her owne Iohn 15.19 But because I haue chosen you out of the world therefore the world hateth you Thirdly if we loue Christ Iesus 3. By our obedience we must shew it by our obedience to his word and to his holy Lawes for so saith Christ If ye loue me Ioh. 14 23. keep my Commandements Little obedience little loue no obedience to Christs will no loue hearty obedience hearty loue And therefore seeing generally men rebel against his word and breake his Commandements thogh these men should swear they loue Christ yet are they liars and the loue of Christ is not in them For who can beleeue that a traytor can loue his Prince Fourthly if we loue Christ Iesus 4. By our suffering for Christ we cannot endure to heare him blasphemed rayled on reuiled his word contemned or his Sabaoths prophaned but it will grieue vs at the very heart we will to the vtmost of our power defend his cause as a louing childe the cause of his father and a faithfull seruant the credit of his maister And withall it will make vs be content to indure some triall and persecution for his sake yea losse of libertie wealth riches yea life iâ—selfe who hath so loued vs that he shed his bloud for vs. Thus much of the affection of the Church towards Christ Iesus Now we are to come to the petitions themselues Shew thou mee O thou whom my soule loueth where thou feedest c. THe Church heere as in many other places of the holie Scriptures compares Christ Iesus to a good and faithfull shepheard as the Prophet Esay describes him Esay 40. He will gather together his Lambs And againe Behold Ezech. 34. I will require my flocke of the Shepheards and I my selfe will feede my sheepe and cause them to rest quietly This is acknowledged of the Prophet Dauid Psal 23.1 The Lord is my shepheard therefore I cannot want Yea Christ doth thus entitle himselfe saying Ioh. 10.11 I 〈◊〉 the good shepheard c. Now the Church of Christ doth put vp her request to this great Shepheard and Doctour of his Church that hee would be pleased to tell her where hee feedes his sheep with the preaching of the Word and the vse Of the Sacraments that so shee may ioyne with them there to be fed and comforted Quest But Obiect was not this the true Church that moueth this question what is then that other Church or flocke she enquires after Resp Ans I answere Howsoeuer the Church of God is but one in all the world yet it hath diuerse partes As the Ocean sea though but one yet it is called by diuers names according to the place where it lies Euen so the Church of Christ though but one yet it hath diuers parts as the Holy-Ghost distinguisheth of it Reuel 1.4 writing to the seuen Churches which are in Asia Now of the whole Church of Christ some parts of it be at peace and rest free from persecution when other partes may suffer persecutions molestations and be vexed by the Diuell and his instruments whom he sets a worke Now in this place the Church of God in persecution and great affliction desieth to know of Christ Where he feedes his sheepe that is where the Church is at rest and peace where the word is purely preached the Sacraments duly administred and Discipline duly performed that she may ioyne with them in the seruice of Almightie God From this request and earnest Doctr. 2 sute of the Church vnto Christ to know where he doth feed his sheepe wee learne that it is a true note of a sheepe of Christ Iesus The true note of a sheep of Christ to hunger and thirst after the word of God to hunger and thirst after the word of GOD to enquire where Christ feedes his flocke where the word is truely and faithfully preached and the Sacraments truelie administred And this doubt our Sauior him selfe obserueth to be the eare-marke of his sheepe Iohn 10.27 My sheepe heare my voyce and I know them and they follow