the day of Gods righteous judgement in so far as their bodies shall lye dissolved in the grave until then Job 19. 26 27. and then being raised in glory they shall be united unto their souls Joh. 5. 28 29. and the whole man perfectly and unchangeably blessed 1 Thes. 4. 17 18. The Lord having so provided that neither our forerunners without us nor we without our after-comers shall be compleatly glorified but the head-stone of glory being put upon all at once the glorifying of Christ in them and of them in Christ may be the more solemn and glorious for he sheweth that the recompence of rest will be when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed c. and not until them 2. It may contribute not a little to the comfort and encouragement of Christian sufferers and the terrour of their Godless Persecutors to know not only that a day of general Judgement shall be but also that in that day the Lord Jesus shall be Judge even he for whom the Godly suffered Act. 5. 41. who gave himself to death that he might save them Ephes. 5. 25 26 27. who is their head Ephes. 1. 22. their husband 2 Cor. 11. 2. their dearest friend Cant. 5. 16. and therefore he cannot choose but pass a favourable sentence on them and it is he whom wicked men despised Isa. 53. 3. whose gracious offers they rejected Matth. 23. 37. whose servants friends and followers they set at nought and persecuted Gal. 4. 29. and therefore there can be none whose terrible sentence they have more reason to fear than his for in order to the main scope which is to comfort the persecuted Godly and as a mean subservient thereto to terrifie their Godless Persecutors he sheweth that Christ shall be the Judge When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed c. saith he 3. Though there be much revealed preached and mâ—de known of Christ 2 Tim. 4. 17. yet he remaineth obscure and hid The wicked do not know him at all as not believing the truth of what they hear concerning him Isa. 53. 1. until they see it to their own unspeakable sorrow and grief Rev. 1. 7. yea and even the Godly do but know in part 1 Cor. 13. 9. and cannot comprehend by faith and at a distance the hundredth part of that excellency and beautiful glory which they shall find him adorned with when they shall see him face to face 1 Cor. 13. 12. Besides that his bodily presence is for the time kept up from their eyes the curtain of the highest Heavens being interposed betwixt them and that glorious sight For while he saith the Lord Jesus shall be then revealed it is implyed that until then he is in a manner hid 4. It may also contribute much to the comfort of the Godly and terrour of the wicked that Jesus Christ the Judge shall come not in a state of humiliation as he did at the first when his divine glory was so much covered over with the vail of humane though sinless Heb. 4. 15. infirmities that a natural eye could see no beauty in him for which it should either desire him or fear him Isa. 53. 2. But he shall come as an exalted King accompanyed with a glorious train of mighty Angels to execute what sentence shall be passed from whom as the Godly can expect nothing but favourable dealing as from their dearest friends their fellow servants Rev. 22. 9. and those who are employed by Christ the Judge to bring about the good of the Elect and in a manner to serve them while they are here on earth Heb. 1. 14. So the wicked can expect nothing but the certain and summary execution of their dreadful sentence from those blessed creatures designed executioners for that very thing whom the damned reprobates cannot resist they are so mighty and strong Psal. 103. 20. nor flee from they are so swift Isa. 6. 2. nor move with flattery and requests they are so true unto their trust Psal. 103. 21. For in order to the comfort of the one and terrour of the other he sheweth how Christ shall come accompanied with a glorious train of mighty Angels 5. Even those things which are in themselves most terrible and shall be so to Godless reprobates at Christs second coming have in them matter of comfort and encouragement unto the Godly and in particular those very flames which shall put those Heavens and Earth which now are all in a blaze and consequently shall prove a most terrible and sadning sight unto the wicked when all their delightsome Idols are burnt up and destroyed before their eyes and that flame of fiery wrath then kindled shall devour themselves unto all eternity even those terrible flames shall be a comfortable sight unto the Godly yea and the fore-thoughts of them may and should yield comfort to them under their present trouble as knowing that the more terrible that judgement is which doth remain for their adversaries the more are they both in their persons and cause owned by the Lord for clearing whereof he will give such evident proofs of his wrath against all who will not favour them as he doth for in order to their comfort he sheweth that Jesus the Lord shall be revealed in flaming fire Ver. 8. Taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. He describeth the day of Judgement secondly from a twofold end of Christs coming on it and joyntly cleareth that two-fold retribution spoken of v. 6 7 The first end relateth to the wicked he shall come to take vengeance on them that is to proceed against them as a wrathful judge with all extremity and without any mixture of mercy for vengeance signifieth a wrathful retribution of evil and those upon whom he shall take vengeance are of two sorts 1. All those whether Pagans or profest Christians who know not God and are ignorant of what may and is necessary in order to salvation to be known of him 2. All those among Christians who though they have some knowledge of Gospel-truths yet do not yield that subjection and obedience thereunto which is enjoyned by it The greatness of which sin of disobedience to the Gospel is hinted at in this that the Gospel is here called the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ that is a doctrine which he hath revealed and which treateth of him and the way of acquiring a right unto him and to life eternal through him So that to slight and disobey the Gospel is to slight Jesus Christ with all the good things purchased by him Doct. 1. Men by living in their ignorance of God and disobedience to the Gospel do not only wrong themselves and are indeed greatest enemies to their own mercies but do also injure the Lord and what in them lyeth do put an affront upon him as if the knowledge of God were not worth the pains and as if Christ had put himself to unnecessary travel for purchasing life and salvation
grant he claimed not the title of universal Bishop nor power of both swords and supream authority over general counsels until some centuries of years were past Even as the Antichrist of whom it is here foretold he had not then revealed himself by exercising open tyranny over the Church of Christ And that man of sin be revealed saith he 3. The Pope is a man though not an individual person without succession yet de jure alwayes but one at one and the same time and a continued series and succession of men in one and the same Chair driving forward one and the same design even in that sense wherein I proved in the Exposition that the Antichrist is here called a man in the singular number 4. The Pope is a man of sin first in his own person It is almost incredible what monsters of men for horrible crimes of murder adultery simony sorcery incest sodomy even Popish Historians do relate many of their own Popes to have been 2. In causing others to sin in so far as he not only perswadeth and forceth men to Idolatry and superstition under the name of commanded worship as Jeroboam did but also for money dispenseth in some cases with murder fornication incest and selleth pardons for any sin unto those who have sufficient money wherewith to buy them This is not denyed by themselves even as the Antichrist who is here called the man of sin Fifthly The Pope is the Son of perdition First one who is destinate to destruction himself as the Godless life and monstrous sins of many Popes have declared them to be whatever the Lord may do in mercy to some and those but very few particular Popes whose lives have not been so grosly vicious as the rest if so he have given them repentance for their abominable errours 2. One who destroyeth others both in their souls by damnable doctrines idolatries and superstitions and in their bodies in so far as his cruel persecutions upon men and women for conscience have for length of time multitudes of those who have suffered by him and the cruel manner of his persecuting by exquisite tortures bloody massacres surpassed far all other persecutions that ever were Even as the Antichrist who is here called in those same respects the son of perdition Secondly whatever is affirmed of the Antichrist v. 4. is verified in the Pope For first under pretence and colour of friendship he is an eminent opposite and adversary to Christ as in many other things so chiefly in his threefold office 1. In his Kingly office while he destroyeth his subjects dispenseth with his Laws maketh them of none effect by his traditions enacteth Laws of his own to bind the conscience of equal authority with yea and some of them point-blank opposite unto the laws of Christ as in his forbidding marriage to Church-men discharging the use of the Cup at the Lords Supper 2. In his Priestly office while he maketh himself an high Priest under the new Testament denyeth the fulness of Christs satisfaction and intercession alledging that they must be supplyed by the merits and intercession of the Virgin Mary Saints and Angels and teaching people to give them Religious worship for that end 3. In his prophetical office while he teacheth that the Scriptures are imperfect and as a false Prophet doth teach contrary to what was taught by Christ in the doctrine of merit purgatory indulgences work of supererogation c. so that he opposeth Christ in all his offices and this for a greater length of time with more universal success and more formidable force than ever any heretick did before him even as the Antichrist who is here said to oppose himself Secondly The Pope exalts himself above all Kings and Emperours while he teacheth he hath absolute power to dispose of Kingdoms and Empires to whom he will at least in order to the Churches good and actually hath dethroned Kings and other Magistrates absolving their Subjects from their oath of allegiance doth make the Emperour to hold his stirrup when he is to ride and will have him to count it a favour to have access to kiss his feet yea and sometimes hath trampled upon the Emperours neck being humbly prostrate before him to beg his favour and reconciliation with him all which are avowed and granted Even as the Antichrist of whom it is here said he exalteth himself above all that is called God or is worshipped See the Exposition Thirdly The Pope in managing his rule and government over the Church of God pretendeth to no less than divine authority even the same with God and Christ whose great Vice-gerent and Vicar-general on earth he giveth out himself to be Besides it is expresly affirmed by Popish writers that the Pope sitting in and teaching from his Chair cannot err and his determinations are of equal certainty with the doctrine of Christ himself Even as the Antichrist of whom it is here said that he shall carry himself as God Fourthly The Pope doth sit and exercise an absolute fixed and illimited power of Government over a society of men which once were Gods spiritual Temple and Church and do yet bear that name and are so in effect if we speak of that small remnant which in all ages the Lord made to keep their garments clean from soul-ruining Antichristian errours or if we speak of the whole bulk and body of them not absolutely but as being compared with Turks Jews and Heathens in so far as they still retain some relicts of a Church as the written word Sacraments Ordination c. though miserably corrupted by false glosses a number of Superstitious Idolatrous and Antichristian additions In which respects the Church and See of Rome may be called the Temple and Church of God wherein the Pope doth sit and rule even as it is here foretold of Antichrist that he should sit in the Temple of God Fifthly The Pope attempts to shew that he is in nothing less to be esteemed of than God by taking and suffering to be ascribed unto himself 1. Divine titles as our Lord God the Pope universal Pastor chief High-Priest Head of the Catholick Church 2. Divine worship as Prostration to him Adoration of him upon opinion of some transcendent sanctity in him and that he hath fulness of power to forgive sins bestow Heaven and damn to Hell 3. Divine properties as that he cannot err is the Judge of all men and himself can be judged by no man hath power as Christs Vicar to dispence with all Law can forgive not only sins past but for a lease of years yet to come even as the Antichrist of whom it is here foretold he should shew himself that he is God Thirdly Whatever is affirmed of the Antichrist v. 6 7. is verified also in the Pope for first It was the Popes power the growth whereof in Rome and Christendome was hindred by the Roman Empire and which advanced by little and little towards its full height as the credit
comfort and thereby to dead his spâ—â—its and make his life bitter is a kind of murther in Gods esteem for it takes away that which here the Apostle doth call life to wit the cheerfulness of his spirit through the want whereof he did formerly look upon himself as dead as is implyed while he saith for now we live 2. As the good of an honest Minister his pains amongst the Lords people redounds to himself in some respect and is not wholly reserved for him until afterwards but is in part bestowed upon him even in this life in so far as not only his inward but also his outward man is thereby bettered his very natural spirits are thereby cheered and consequently his strength preserved and in an ordinary way his life prolonged So his want of success and growth of wickedness among the people of his charge in despite of all his endeavours to the contrary is sufficient to dead his spirits to eat up his cheerfulness and consequently cut his dayes for the one of those doth follow upon the other and the former is evidently implyed while Paul affirms that his life or a cheerful frame of spirit did flow from their constancy in the faith now we live if ye stand fast in the Lord. Ver. 9. For what thanks can we render to God again for you for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God He doth confirm and illustrate what he spoke of his cheerful frame of spirit and withall expresseth the third effect of those good tydings to this purpose he did for their sake or by their means reap so much spiritual and sincere joy called here joy before God as he could never in way of thankfulness to God express to the full and as the cause required his present sense of Gods love which had bestowed upon him so rich a mercy for such questions as this what thanks can we render c. do usually imply somewhat above expression and cannot well be answered Psal. 84. 1. and 119. 97 Doct. 1. Gods ordinary way of dealing with exercised Christians is The lower they are brought under sad and weighty exercise to make their comfort and joy accompanying their outgate so much the more to abound See 2 Cor. 1. 5. for Paul who was pressed down and brought so low with a twofold weight of desire and fear that he could not longer forbear v. 5. is now as much exalted that he cannot find words sufficient to express the sweetness of his case he was comforted v. 7. he did live v. 8. and here he had joy and all joy for all the joy wherewith we joy saith he 2. As the Lord doth sometimes furnish his people with more than ordinary matter of joy and such as they cannot contain but must express their sense thereof with cheerfulness and good will So they ought and in some measure will have a watchful eye that in all such expressions of joy they vent nothing that is carnal sinful or unseemly but what beseemeth such as are alwayes in Gods sight and are especially then most narrowly marked and taken notice of by his all-seeing eye for Paul having such matter of joy while he is about to express it doth set himself in Gods sight for all the joy saith he wherewith we joy before our God 3. Whatever matter of joy a man may have he cannot improve it nor attain to the actual exercise of solid and spiritual joy except his interest in God be in some measure cleared whose reconciled face doth put such a ravishing lustre upon all our other mercies as they draw out the heart actually to rejoice in them or rather in God for them See Psal. 4. 6. for though Paul had matter of joy from the former good tydings yet he doth not actually rejoice until he close with God as his through Christ as is implyed while he saith for all the joy wherewith we joy before our God 4. Christian love to those who are Gods doth give the person who loveth an interest in all the good things bestowed by God upon those whom he loveth and a large share of all the joy and comfort which are occasioned by them for Paul to make evident his ardent affection to these Thessalonians doth shew that their merciful receipts did give him matter of all joy for all the joy saith he wherewith we joyed for your sakes that is for Gods mercies towards them mentioned v. 6. Doct. 5. Whoever are or may be the occasion of joy by furnishing matter for it yet a Godly heart will not rest upon them but look to the Lord above all ascribing praise and thanksgiving to him who not only giveth the cause and occasion of joy by making instruments to be that which they are matter of joy and not of grief Psal. 20. 9. but also doth give us to improve that matter of joy unto actual rejoycing which otherwise we could not Eccles. 2. 24. for Paul though he had the matter of his joy furnished from the Thessalonians yet he looks over them to God and returns him thanksgiving for it what thanks can we render unto God for all our joy saith he 6. As giving of thanks is all the rent which either the Lord doth crave or we can return unto him for favours received So no thanksgiving of ours can be lookt upon as an answerable return to the meanest of mercies and especially a Godly heart can never satisfie himself in the matter of his thankfulness to the Lord he prizeth the mercy received so high and seeth his thanks to be so feckless that he judgeth all he can do of no value and no wayes answerable to what so rich mercy in God doth call for for Paul seeth that thanksgiving was his due but cannot satisfie himself in any thing he could do of that kind as is implyed while he saith what thanks can we render to God for all the joy c. Ver. 10. Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face and might perfect that which iâ— lacking in your faith Here is the fourth effect of those glad tidings upon Paul he was thereby put to his prayers which were 1. Assiduous the phrase night and day implyeth such an assiduity as admits of no other but necessary intermissions Luk. 2. 37. next it was fervent and serious so much is implyed in his praying exceedingly or as it is in the original excessively intimating fervency of affection 3. The thing prayed for was 1. To see them or to be present with them 2. That being with them he might have occasion by his Preaching to them and conversing with them to perfect supply and make up as an instrument under God 1 Cor. 3. 5. what was lacking and wanting in their faith whether in their understanding as to their knowledge of or assent unto truths revealed or in their will and affections as to their imbracing of and adherence unto that good thing held forth by those truths Doct. 1. There can
speaks not of the wicked expresly but only describes them from their height of security which long continuance in sin should at length drive them to as from an infallible evidence of a wicked man for when they shall say peace and safety 2. There is not any one more speaking evidence of approaching judgement of one kind or other than carnal security in sin and wickedness arrived to such an height as to make men wholly fearless of Gods judgement and atheistical mockers at all threatnings which forewarn them of it for saith he when they shall say peace and safety then sudden destruction cometh 3. What ever grounds of confidence or undoubted perswasion flowing from those grounds a wicked man may have to escape a threatned judgement yet all shall serve tâ— little purpose when God beginneth in earnest to reckon with him his strongest fancy with all its grounds will prove but a weak bulwark to bear off the overflowing waves of Divine wrath when the haile shall sweep away the refuge of lies and the waters shall overflow the hiding place Isa. 28. 17. for the word rendred safety implyes they should have a certain perswasion of safety as if they were above all doubt and this doubtless upon some grounds satisfactory to themselves and yet for all that even then sudden destruction shall come upon them and at unawares surprize them 4. As a lingring death hath in it much of mercy even to wicked men who have thereby time and leisure given them to repent and to plead with God for mercy Rev. 2. 21. So of all deaths or wayes of calling sinners to an account those which are sudden and make quick dispatch are to a wicked liver most dangerous as hardly leaving any place either for Gods patience or mans repentance but making an end of the person stricken before he can solidly think upon his end for he placeth a great part of the terrour of the destruction threatned in that it should be sudden and unexpected Then sudden destruction cometh upon them 5. Though none can know the peremptory day month or year of Christs second coming see v. 1. doct 2. yet there are certain signs from which when they shall fall out a man may certainly know that the day of the Lord is near approaching such as these a general height of carnal security Matth. 24. 38 39. the conversion of the Jews Rom. 11. 15. and total destruction of the Antichrist 2 Thes. 2. 8. for besides other things so much may be implyed in this similitude whereby Christs second coming and the destruction of the wicked which doth accompany it are compared to travail upon a woman with child who though she know not the very day and hour when her pains shall take her yet she hath certain signs whereby to know that her time approacheth 6. The pain and horrour which the day of the Lord shall bring on Godless reprobates is such that no tongue can utter nor can it be expressed in proper terms so as we might conceive it yea and such as the greatest of all earthly torments are but weak shadows and slender representations of it and too little to express it for therefore doth the spirit of God alwayes while speaking of this destruction make use of borrowed similitudes from the most terrible of earthly and bodily torments as of those occasioned by fire Mark 9 45. by fire of brimstone Rev. 21. 8. by an eating worm never dying Mark 9. 46. and here the pains and torment of a woman in travail all which doubtless come far short of expressing to the full that pain and torment which is incomparable incomprehensible and cannot be expressed but by such shadows and representations 7. Even damned souls and the most profane and lawless of Godless reprobates are not only overruled by and under the dominion of a divine providence but shall also know so much by sad experience when in the great day nill they will they they shall appear before their dreadful Judge and receive their sad and woful sentence from his blessed mouth and be presently made without all delay or shifting to undergoe it for saith Paul they shall not escape Ver. 4. But ye brethren are not in darkness that that day should overtake you as a thief Lest the Godly should be terrified and shaken with the apprehension and fear of that suddain destruction presently mentioned he doth here cast in a seasonable word of comfort for all such against the terrour of it as appeareth from his entrance made to the present purpose with an adversative particle But. And first he propoundeth the ground of the following comfort namely that they to wit as many of them to whom he writeth as were sincere believers in Jesus Christ for so must this indefinite compellation and that note of universality also v. 5. be understood according to the use of Scripture elsewhere 1 Cor. 15. 22. none such I say were in darkness that is they were not living in their gross and natural ignorance of God nor yet in carnal security or Godless profanity for the word darkness doth point at both those here as elsewhere in Scripture Rom. 2. 19. 1 Joh. 1 6 Next he expresseth the comfort it self flowing from this ground to this purpose that however the precise day and time of Christs second coming could not be known by them no more than by the wicked Matth. 24. 36. yet it should not overtake them or as the word implyeth violently apprehend them to their hurt and prejudice as a thief and robber doth apprehend the person and goods of those whom he spoiles and destroyeth Now the force of the inference whereby he draweth the present consolation from the forementioned ground doth lye in the similitude take it thus that as a thief can only do hurt to those who are sleeping securely in the dark night and not to others So this terrible day could do no hurt to them because it should not find them lying secure in the dark night of ignorance or impiety Doct. 1. The truly Godly and they to whom the terrible threatnings of eternal judgement do least belong are of such a tender frame and temper of heart Isa. 66. 2. that usually they are most affected sadded and discouraged by them when Godless livers to whom they properly appertain are so little moved with them that they rather mock them 2 Pet. 3. 4. for Paul did foresee so much while presently after he had denounced sudden destruction to come upon secure reprobates he seeth a necessity to guard the Godly against the terrour of it But ye brethren are not in darkness saith he 2. It concerneth therefore the wise and faithful servant of Christ so to denounce the terrible threatnings of everlasting wrath against the wicked as that he presently caution them for the comfort of the Godly lest otherwise they for whom they are not intended be dejected shaken and discouraged by them for so doth Paul here guard the former threatning with
to sinners the offer whereof they refused to accept and embrace for while he saith the Lord Christ will take vengeance on them that know not God and obey not the Gospel it is implyed that there is a wrong and injury offered to God in their ignorance and disobedience for which he will avenge himself upon them 2. As Gods vindictive justice shall seize upon others besides bloody persecutors in the great day even upon all who know not God and obey not the Gospel So it shall prove no comfort at all unto damned reprobates that an innumerable multitude shall be damned with them but rather augment their torment and horrour for he sheweth that the Lord will take vengeance not only upon avowed persecutors of whom he spoke before v. 6. but also upon all that know not God and obey not the Gospel and this to increase terrour to those cruel persecutors who shall much less escape 3. Though there be a great difference betwixt Law and Gospel the former only commanding the latter also holding forth promised furniture and strength for enabling us to obey the former admitting of no less than perfect obedience Gal. 3. 10. and personal satisfaction for our disobedience Gen. 2. 17. the latter accepting sincerity instead of perfection Mat. 25. 21. and satisfaction by a cautioner instead of our own 2 Cor. 5. 21. Yet there is no such difference betwixt them as if the Law only did command and the Gospel only promise No The Gospel hath its own commands as well as the Law yea commandeth the same things which the Law commandeth with respect had to the forementioned differences and others of that kind for while he speaketh of them that obey not the Gospel it is implyed that the Gospel doth command and enjoyn 4. The Lords will is not the only cause of the reprobates condemnation he condemneth none but for their sin and those whose ignorance and disobedience have first procured their condemnation so that the very consciences of most Godless reprobates shall be made to subscribe to their own condemnation as most equitable and just for he pointeth at their ignorance and disobedience as cause of their condemnation while he saith the Lord Christ will take vengeance on them who know not God and obey not the Gospel 5. Suppose a man might know very much yea and obey the Law unto the utmost of what his abilities can reach yet if he do not obey the Gospel and more especially that great command of the Gospel to believe and accept an offered Saviour 1 Job 3. 23. he cannot be saved The least sin which ever he committed will be in that case of it self sufficient to condemn him for so much is clear while it is said Christ will take vengeance on them who obey not the Gospel whatever be their knowledge obedience or disobedience otherwayes Ver. 9. Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power He doth here set forth the terrour of that vengeance which shall be then inflicted upon the ignorant and disobedient first from the kind of it it shall not be an ordinary loss but a destruction both of soul and body from which there shall be no escaping 1 Tâ—es 5. 3. and yet not an utter abolishing of their nature and being as the destruction of beasts is but of their well-being and joy as the destruction of the fallen Angels was Jude v. 6 7. and therefore it is set forth next from the continuance of it It sâ—all be eternal The word signifieth properly a thing alwayes existing and never ending They shall still be dying an immortal death and yet never dead 3. From the great loss which they shall sustain by this destruction They shall never behold the Lords gracious presence but be banished from it unto all eternity or rather the efficient cause or mean of this destruction is hereby pointed at The very presence of Christ the Judge shall torment them and his infinite glorious power drive them away as unworthy to stand in his sight to the place of torment prepared for them and shall perpetuate their torment by upholding them in their being under it Doct. 1. Though there be degrees of torment among the damned in Hell Matth. 11. 22. yet the pain and torment of all shall agree in those The total destruction of their well-being and joy the eternity of that destruction and an utter estrangement from any mixture of comfort and from Gods presence the fountain from whence comfort doth flow for he saith that not only avowed persecutors but all the ignorant and disobedient shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord. 2. When the ransom for sin payed by Christ is not embraced there is no remedy but the sinner himself must undergoe the stroke of divine justice for those sins which he hath committed for those who obey not the Gospel by accepting an offered ransome shall be punished with everlasting destruction 3. As divine justice will never cease to pursue the damned sinner until compleat satisfaction be given for all his sins So the wrong done against an infinite God by sin is such that damned sinners notwithstanding all the torture and torment both in soul and body that they can endure shall never be able unto all eternity to satisfie for it for saith he they shall be punished with everlasting destruction Their debt will never be payed and they shall not come out of prison until they pay the uttermost farthing Matth. 5. 26. Doct. 4. Though the consciences of Godless reprobates are now for the most part dead and seared Eph. 4. 19. yet when Christ the Judge shall come to reckon with them their consciences shall be so vigorous quick and lively that being convicted and condemned by their own consciences already they shall not endure to behold the presence of Christ the Judge for the very presence of Christ the Judge shall torment them which could not be if their own consciences did not convince them and powerfully check them for their many by-past injuries done to him They shall be punished from the presence of the Lord saith he 5. Though the sentence pronounced against wicked men by their own consciences now is not presently executed and so the less feared by them Eccles. 8. 11. yet no sooner shall they pass sentence in the great day or rather second the sentence which will be passed against them by Christ the Judge but presently and without delay the glorious power of their Judge by the Ministry of his mighty Angels will cause the sentence quickly and without the least reprive be put in execution so that in all probability there shall be no long process but a quick and suddain dispatch for no sooner shall Christs presence meeting with their self-condemning consciences begin to torment them but as soon his glorious power shall be employed to accomplish and continue their torment They shall be punished