of the end long beefore are these The first is the preaching of the Gospell to all the world Mat. 24.14 And the Apostle affirmes this was done euen in his time saying Col. 1.23 The Gospell hath beene preached to euery creature vnder heauen The second signe before the end is the reuelation and manifestation of Antichrist 2. Thes 2.3 Before the day of Christ the man of sinne shall be disclosed as hee is set out in the reuelation to all eyes in his colours 14. 17. Chap. who shall cause the generall departing from the faith of Christ as it is foreshewed by the Apostle Paul in the same Scripture 2. The. 2.3 The third signe the Iudgements following vpon the world for the contempt of the Gospell warres famine pestilence Mat. 24.6 See that ye be not troubled for al these things must come to passe but the end is not yet and persecution ver 7. The fourth signe the generall corruption of manners 2. Tim. 3. Toward the later dayes shall come perillous times wherin men shall bee louers of themselues couetous boasters c. much like for securitie and sinne to the dayes of Noah Mat. 24.37.38 great deadnes of heart They knew nothing for all the preaching of Noah Gen. 6. Luke 17.26 Most men haue seene the first kinde of messengers and forerunners before Christ and be nothing touched with repentance by any of them woe vnto them if they stay till the last signes come for then saith Saint Luke their hearts shall faile them The second kinde of signes pognosticating his comming more neere it or immediately before it are these First in the heauen or firmament the Sunne shall wax darke Mark 13.24 that is haue as it were many Eclipses and the Moone shall faile of her accustomed light and the Starres of heauen shall fall that is shall bee seene to fall indeede and the powers of heauen shall bee shaken Secondly in earth trouble in all nations with perplexitie of minde and great sorrowes Luke 21.25 Thirdly in the sea and waters hideous sounds and rorings most terrible shall bee heard Luk. 21.25 Fourthly in the ayre there shall bee terrible tempests So that heauen and earth shall then preach Christ to vnbeleeuers to their great horrour for their long contempt of the Gospell Fiftly and lastly beefore his comming the heauens shall passe away with a noise and the elements shall melt with heate and the earth with the works that are therein shall be burnt vp 2. Pet. 3.10 The third and last signe is in his very comming and this is called by the Euangelists the signe of the Sonne of man Mat. 24.29.30 comming in a cloud with power and great glory Luke 21.27 This I take it to bee the great glorious and lightsome beames of maiestie whereby the world shall bee renued and enlightened immediately before his personall appearance to supply the defect of the light of Sunne and Moone like as wee see in Somer in the dawning of the day certaine beames of the Sunne appeare for a good space of time before the Sunne appeare in sight aboue our Horrison or sensible to our eye so shall there bee a glorious euidence of the approching of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ vnto the eyes of all men before they heare his personall and bodily presence beefore them And thus far shall suffice for the first point that there shall be an vniuersall Iudgement Secondly the forme of the generall iudgement There is no man can well expresse the admirable forme of this great Iudgement yet so far as the Lord hath reueled it and I conceiue it I shall declare it In the forme three things are principally to bee respected First the preparation vnto the great session Secondly the proceeding in Iudgment Thirdly the execution of the difinitiue sentence First the preparation vnto Iudgement First beefore his comming preparation shall bee made by fire Psal 50.3 A fire shall deuoure before him as we heare before out of Saint Peter 2. Pet. 3.7.10.11.12 for heauen and earth must passe through a fire not to consume them to nothing for then where should Christ appeare in Iudgement and sinners must bee iudged on the earth and in the place where they haue sinned but to consume their leprosie and corruption wherewith the sinne of man hath infected heauen and earth that so being as gold purified in fire they may shine bright and glorious and may bee fit to intertaine the maiestie of this great king at his glorious comming to Iudgement for as the Apostle saith 1. Cor. 7.31 It is the figure or forme not the nature or substance of the world that passeth away The same is testified Rom. 8.21 The creature also shall bee deliuered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious libertie of the sonnes of God So Act. 1. and Psal 102.72.28 The heauens shall waxe old c. and shall be changed Reu. 21.1 Esay 65.17.66.22 meaning into a better state as other Scriptures also testifie Secondly then shall bee the appearing of the glorie of the mightie God a Tit. 2.14 of our Sauiour Iesus Christ who shal come from the highest heauens accompanied with an exceeding great hoast of mightie Angels and b Heb. 12.22 1. Cor. 6.1.2 soules of righteous men Thirdly then shall bee heard the sound of a trumphet a wonderful c The. 4.16 peircing long continued sound summoning all men and Angels vnto Iudgement Fourthly the good Angels shall gather all nations and bring all vnto the place of Iudgement all I say the d 2. Tim. 4.1 liuing and the dead for the very dead shall first bee called out of their graues and they shall come clothed with their owne bodies 1. Thes 4.16 And with them shall appeare all that bee aliue changed in a moment in the twinckling of an eye and corruptible bodies shall bee come incorruptible naturall shall turne spirituall liuing immediately by the vertue and power of God And then the bodies of the Saints shall bee like the glorious body of Christ shining as the Sunne Mat. 13.43 And the wicked shall bee full of shame and dishonour Dan. 12.2 The euill Angels also they are reserued for the iudgement of the great e Iud. 6. day And then Antichrist the Sonne of perdition shall appeare in his colours who shall be consumed and wasted continually by the spirit of Christ preaching the Gospell f Th. 2.7.8 but his finall abolishing and perdition shall bee at the glorious comming of Christ Fiftly after all this shall Christ bee set in his throne of iudgement as the Euangelists speake Then shall hee sit vpon the throne of his glory Mat. 25.31 and this throne shall be like a flame of fire Dan. 7.9 so that the wicked shall desire the mountaines to couer them from the sight of it Sixtly this done the Lord shall make separation between the Elect and the reprobate as he doth here on earth in the Church make separation betweene the precious and
spirit Secondly mark and obserue well wherein thou art short of the obedience of this Law in any of the branches before specified or hast fallen into the contrary sinnes forbidden let the meditation of Gods loue in Christ and the sight of thy sinnes here set before thee draw from thee dayly some vnfained teares of repentance Luke 7.47 for by walking vprightly in the obedience of this Law thou maist shew the power of Christ dwelling in thee Psa 119.1 1. Pet. 2.9 Thirdly that it may truly appeare that thou art in Christ and Iesus Christ in thee 2. Cor. 13.5 pray feruently in the spirit Quest 69. Let vs heare first what you can say generally of the scope summe sense and parts of the second Law Ans First for the scope it is this that with all care and conscience we worship God in that forme hee hath prescribed in his word and not after mans inuention The first law was concerning the duties which doe directly concerne the nature and person of God and touching the substance of his worship this Law is concerning the forme and manner of his seruice and here the question is answered which hath most disquieted the Chruch in all ages who shall prescribe the forme of Gods worship shall Angels shall men shall the Church shall Councels shall the learned and the wise or shall euery man serue God according to the imaginations of his owne heart The answere is that when we haue made choise of Iehoua for our God and reiected all false Gods according to his first Law least our mindes should inuent him any seruice hee hath here prescribed lawes himselfe for his owne most diuine and spirituall seruice Secondly the summe therfore of this Law in few words it is this worship the Lord thy God according to his reuealed will written in his word and neuer presume to offer him any will-worship of humane inuention Thirdly for the sense the words are these Thou shalt not make to thy selfe any grauen Image The Lords meaning is not to forbid all making of Images for God did allow and commaund many to be made by Bezaleel and Aholiab Ex. 31.1.2 and 35.30 1. King 8. Blind worshippers sought often to represent the true God by an Idoll as Hosh 2.16 and Exod. 32.5 and Salomons Temple was richly adorned with Cherubins and Images of gold and siluer The Lord then heere first forbids a man to make any image to represent him as is very manifest Deut. 4.15 where he chargeth them not to represent him by any thing adding this reason verse 12. you heard the voice of words but saw no similitude saue a voice teaching vs that hee can better instruct vs by his word then by any pictures Nor the likenesse of any thing in heauen aboue God forbiddeth here to make any image of any false God which can bee imagined seene or knowne to bee in heauen in earth or in the waters Deut. 4. in the heauens as Starres ver 19. Angels Saints in the ayre as fethered foules ver 17. secondly the likenesse of any thing on earth as man and beasts ver 18. thirdly of things vnder the earth in the waters Dagon was formed like a fish 1. Sa. 5.1.2 as of any fishes ver 18. Thou shalt neither bow thy selfe vnto them nor serue them here wee bee forbidden all manner of seruice vnto an Idoll and vnto the true God before an Idoll By bowing is meant all manner of bodily worship capping kneeling kissing dauncing before the Idoll Exod. 32. or by any such signe to fauour or like them serue them or worship them The generall here seemes to bee put after the speciall that no manner of seruice bee done to Idols or to God in Idols or images for that Idolaters can worship Idols and God in Idols being farre absent from them by vowes by guifts c. as well appeares in the Popish superstition Arguments 1 2 3 For I the Lord thy God as beefore in the preface am a mightie God that is hee is able with a strong hand to plague thee for all false worship as hee did all Israell 2. Kin. 17.20 and 32.41 They feared God and serued their Images therefore the Lord by a strong hand cast off all the seede of Israell Mal. 1.16.8 14. if thou serue a man thou must doe as he appoynteth if a mightie man it is dangerous to doe otherwise 4 No cause in vs he should loue vs much lesse be ielous ouer vs. And a Iealous God God hath bound himselfe as by a speciall couenant in a holy mariage with his people Esay 54.5 Ephe. 5.26.27 when therefore men estrange their loue and seruice to any thing else then hee cryes out by his spirit that hee is prouoked to iealousie by spirituall whoredome Hosh 1.2 Chap. looke how deepely it smiteth the heart of the louing husband that his wife spouse follow a stranger so in like manner is it betweene vs and the Almightie when wee impart his worship to any other or serue him not as hee commandeth But iealousie saith Salomon Pro. 6.34 is the rage of man so kindling his ire that he will not spare in the day of vengeance Therefore auoid all spirituall whordome for the Lord when hee is prouoked to iealousie is a consuming fire Heb. 12. hee vseth often this complaint They haue moued me to ielousie with that which is not God they haue prouoked mee to anger with their vanities 5. Deu. 29.20 Ezech. 8.2 Visiting the iniquitie God is said to visit his people when he comes against them with the sword of a 1. Sam. 15.23 Mat. 23.24 Exod. 17.14 Deut. 25.17 Two effects of ielousie iustice These two reasons following are two fruits and effects of ielousie The first is an exceeding long anger the second is an exceeding loue and mercie for ielousie abounds in these two affections There is a notable example of this ielousie An example of Gods ielousie Exod 33 10 11. to be diligently marked Exod. 32. for the golden calfe for Moses with all his holy teares and prayers could not quench the flame of it verse 10.11.12.13 yea notwithstanding that Calfe was burnt in the fire ground to pouder and strowed vpon water and the idolaters drunke of it ver 20. notwithstanding three thousand men were slaine by the Leuites at that time ver 28. notwithstanding that Moses proceedeth in most feruent prayer as it were standing in the gappe betweene Gods wrath and his people and crying that if God would not bee appeased that hee would rase him out of the booke of life ver 32. yet the Lord as not respecting all the promisses and hardly appeased for the time answereth In the day of my visitation I will visit their sinne vpon them ver 32. So wee see the Lord prouoked to ielousie is a consuming fire Of Fathers vpon their Children wee bee taught how this iustice is executed Ezech. 18.3 for the Iewes then complained of vniustice that they should bee
punished for the iniquitie of their Fathers they are there answered that the soule which sinneth shall dye the death where they were taught that they committing the same Idolatrie with their Fathers or continuing the same or the like were in the same condemnation yea they doe increase wrath vpon themselues they are first pinched for their owne and then not repenting for their fathers superstition but continuing in their steps their iudgements are iustly doubled vpon them for so it followeth in the words of the Law 〈…〉 is being of full age 〈…〉 Obiect But Infants hate not God Ans True it is they commit no action of hatred vntil they come to yeares of discreation but onely are possest with naturall corruption and disposition vnto euill The old Wolfe deuoureth the sheep the young sucking whelps doe not so not for want of nature but for want of strength The spawne of all sinne and iniquitie is in all the sonnes of men from their infancie Ep. 2.3 Vnto the third and fourth generation By the third generation I take it is meant the Nephue and by the fourth his sonne The Lord here stayeth first for that since this Law was deliuered in Sinai the fathers saw no more discents in their progenie but the third and fourth generation Againe a second reason may be for that in the fourth generation the naturall affection of kindred begins to dye and weare away Obiect And will the Lord so long remember anger Ans So long if Children repent not but persist in the idolatrous steps of their fore fathers Wherefore it standeth vs all in this land in hand not onely to reiect the Romish superstition but also to addict our selues in vnfained repentance for the Idolatry of our Fathers to worship Iehouah in spirit and truth according to his holy will reuealed in the Gospell Iohn 4. Of them that hate me first when I turne from Gods Law to follow will-worship I am here taught that I do in heart hate the Lord intend and pretend what I can to the contrary secondly that both superstitious and profane parents which doe not bring vp their children in the true worship of God but suffer them to bee infected with superstition are very murtherers of their owne children The sixt argument Shewing mercie vnto thousands here is the last argument to containe vs in the obedience of this Law The true worshipper is blessed in his progenie for many generations for the Lord is strong mightie mercifull and gratious slow to anger and abundant in goodnesse and truth reseruing mercie for thousands Exod. 34.6.7 Psal 103.5 First the rich promises of Gods free grace and mercie in Christ which concerne this life present and that which is to come 1. Tim. 4.8 doe appertaine to the true worshippers of God and to their children If but a meane Prince would thus binde himselfe to vs and to our children wee would neuer forget the clemencie and often sollicit him for accomplishment thereof how much more bound be we to remember the rich mercies of God in Iesus Christ Ephe. 4. so often promised to the Godly and his clildren Pro. 20.7 hee that walketh in his integritie is iust and blessed shall his children bee after him Secondly Of them which loue mee and keepe my commandement this amplification is added to warne children to follow the steps of their religious parents and not of their superstitious forefathers for God binds himselfe onely to the obedient children of faithfull beeleeuing parents as the Psalmist right well expoundeth it Psal 103.17.18 The louing kindnesse of the Lord endureth for euer and euer vpon them that feare him and his righteousnesse vpon childrens children vnto them that keep his couenant and thinke vpon his commandements to doe them Thirdly here wee bee taught that the true loue of God and the keeping of his commandements are inseparable The loue of God is the fountaine of all true obedience Iohn 8.47 hee that is of God heareth Gods word ye therfore heare them not because yee are not of God if yee loue mee keepe my commandements The parts or speciall branches of this law are these The first generall branch is the Law it selfe concerning the forme of Gods holy worshippe and here note generally two branches first concerning the erecting of an Idoll or Image to represent 1. the true God Father Sonne and holy Ghost 2. or any false or supposed God to be worshiped by it either in heauen as Starres Birds or in earth man or beast or in the waters as fishes secondly concerning the worshipping of the true God 1. Before an Idoll 2. Or the false God in any of these visible formes The second generall branch is confirmation and ratification of this Law by these sixe reasons 1. I am Iehoua 2. I am thy Lord and God 3. I am a mightie God 4. I am a iealous God 5. I visit the sinnes of the Fathers to the third and fourth generation 6. I shew mercie to thousands c. Quest 70. Now let vs heare what be the speciall branches of obedience required of Gods people in this Law Ans In this second Law the Lord chargeth all his people to worship him in that forme and manner which he hath himselfe prescribed in his word therefore our first care must bee to keepe rules in the principall branches and parts of his worship and seruice prescribed vnto vs which are these The first principall branch of the holy worship of God here commanded is the pure preaching of his word The second branch of Gods holy worship here commanded is a profitable forme of priuate reading publike hearing of Gods word preached The third branch is the right forme of inuocation and thanksgiuing prescribed in the word The fourth and last speciall forme to be respected of gods holy worship is of the administration and participation of the holy Sacraments as God commendeth it in his word Question 71. First let mee heare breefely what doth the Lord require of his Ministers touching the forme of preaching and dispensation of his word Ans If God hath prescribed his word vnto man in other speciall branches of his worshippe and bound his people to a prescript forme from the which they may not decline much more in preaching which is one principall part of his holy seruice and worship The rules commanded and appertaining to this forme of Gods holy worship are these following 1. Preach the pure word of God not mens inuentions First the faithfull dispenser of Gods misteries must bee sure that hee preach the very words of God 1. Pet. 4.11 If any man speake let him speake as the words of God for that the word of God onely is the immortall seede and instrument of the regeneration of Gods elect Iames. 1.18 of his owne will hee begat vs by the word of truth 1. Pet. 1.2 3. and againe to this end giue attendance vnto reading 2. Tim. 1.13 2. Wisdome in application Secondly in dispensing the word of reconciliation
vnto God And the Israelites for the golden calfe saw the forme and knew right well the matter of it and set it vp for none other cause but to stirre vp their affections the better to serue the inuisible God yet they were most fearfully plagued for their inuention Lastly we may not shew any signes of fauour by our presence or otherwise vnto this Idolatrous worship against this the Apostle disputeth 1. Cor. 8. and Rom. 1. Quest 81. Proceede to an other branch here forbidden Ans 3. sinne An Image to represent the false God or any of the creatures to worship them by it The third sinne here forbidden is to erect and set vp an Image to any false God and to worship any false God or any of the creatures in heauen or earth or in the water vnder the earth in by with or beefore an Image fained and set vp to this end and purpose This was the great Idolatrie of the Israelites in the molten calfe after the manner of the Egiptians madnesse and blindnesse of Pagans Rom. 1.23 Herod li. 1. c. 2. saith that the Egiptians were the first that made Images to represent their Gods with what figures they listed Against this the Prophets spake and writ much in their times as Ier. Chap. 7. ver 18. and 44.17 where hee teacheth vs how this blinde kinde of Idolaters euer conclude of religion by their bellies For thus they reasoned then in defence of their superstition and Idolatrie The worship of the Queene of heauen that is of the Sunne Moone and Stars is best for when wee continued that religion then had wee plentie of victuals and were well and felt none euill And thus doe the children of the false God euen the Papists to this day conclude against Gods holy and pure worship For they fill their Temples with the Images and pictures of the Apostles Euangelists Martyrs Confessours Virgins Angels Archangels and such like worshipping their Image and inuocating the Saints departed beefore these dead pictures as is well knowne by the practise and charge of the Church of Rome and if they relinquish this abhomination they are setled in this mis-beleefe they shall not prosper But Gods pure worship and wisedome and will is knowne onely to Gods faithfull people vnto whom the holy Ghost giues this speciall marke they abhorre all monuments of superstition Esay 30.21 because inuocation of Saints is forbidden first by the Apostles Act. 10.25 and 14.13 Secondly by the Angel Reue. 22.8 Iud. 13.16 Thirdly for that it cannot proceede from faith Rom. 10.14 Fourthly for that they see not the meaning or sense 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the grones and desires of the spirit of prayer Rom. 8.26.27 Fiftly for that the mediator of our intercession must sprinkle our prayers with his blood and so present them to God Sixtly for that the faithfull neuer worshipped but Iehoua Father Sonne and holy Ghost Images and pictures beegan to bee set vp in Churches about the yeare 380. the first occasion was this they reuerenced greatly the holy memorie of the Apostles and Martyrs of those times and therfore set vp in priuate houses the pictures of them as wee doe in these times the pictures of Maister I. Caluin maister P. martyr Beza Bucer Melanchthon and others from their priuate houses they began euen then to set them vp in Churches but onely for memorie sake and yet the Godly Fathers then were offended that these Images made onely for ciuill vse should be set vp in Temples desiring to retaine as they speake pristinam primitiuam simplicitatem for they feared the mischiefe which followed See the Booke of Wisedome Chapter 14.10 11.12.15.16 to the like effect Quest 82. Proceede to the fourth Sinne. Ans Vnder this kinde of seruing God in and by Images heere forbidden all the inuentions of men as touching the substance of Gods worship are condemned and such seruice of God the Apostle containes vnder this one generall head will-worship Col. 2.23 Deut. 12.8 Yee shall not doe euery man what seemeth good in his owne eyes Es 29.13 Their feare toward mee was taught by the precept of men that is they worship mee in vaine following the precepts of men Mat. 15.9 For this practise the Prophet Ieremie saith the people of his time did walke stubbernly after their owne heart Ier. 13.10 and 16.13 and 18.12 and 19.15 All corruptions and sinnes in preaching the word in hearing the word in administration and participation of the Sacraments and in inuocation contrary to the former rules of pietie as being meerly of the diuell mans inuention belong to this question and are here condemned Deut. 12.32 1. Sam. 9.13 8.10 as for example in the blasphemous sacrifice of the Masse for the holy Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ is quite prophaned by the doctrines of the sonne of perdition Master Iuell against Harding all the points in the Masse Christ hauing ordained no such sacrifice and therefore all their Priests are no more the Priests of the Gospell being not ordained to preach but to sacrifice for the quicke and dead neither is it possible if the doctrine of Papists be true that without ordination there can be no Church that the Papists haue euer had any Church Ministerie Priesthood or worship of God since first they were ordered to sacrifice for the quick and dead Quest 83. What occasions of Idolatrie be here forbidden Ans Occasions of Idolatrie 1. Presence in the Idols Temple All occasions whereby our hearts may bee stollen away from the pure worship of God vnto Idolatrie As first to yeeld bodily reuerence to the Masse or Idols seruice whatsoeuer wee pretend to the contrary this sinne is condemned 1. Cor. 8. chap. and 10. where these reasons of great waight may bee noted first the true worshipper may not bee partaker of the sacrifices and Sacraments of a contrary religion and of contrarie effects The supper of Christ is the communion and participation of the body of Christ but the sacrifice of the Masse is the communion and drinking of the cup of the Diuell 2. Worshipping or gracing the Idoll by any gesture or action 1. Cor. 10.21 Secondly againe we must glorifie God in our bodies and in our spirits for they are Gods ver 26. Secondly any signe of fauour or liking of an Idoll or Idoll-seruice 3. Reseruation of reliques as of the nayles which pierced Christs body which the Papists say were but three and yet make the people beleue those three bee wholy in seauen seuerall places the like may be said of most of their reliques which they haue fetched from the Turks by their owne confession 4. To remember Idols or false Gods in our common speach by kissing it or capping bowing kneeling before it though they pretend all they doe is to the person represented by it against this speaks Hosea in his time in these words Chap. 13.2 The Idolaters say one to another whiles they sacrifice a man
these nations neither make mention of the name of their Gods nor cause to sweare by them neither serue them nor bow vnto them but stick fast vnto the Lord your God And Zephaniah 1.5 I will root of the remnant of Baal and them that sweare by the Lord and sweare by Malcham Psal 16. Quest 89. What can you say against this common practise of swearing Ans First wee say it is the charge of our Lord and master Iesus Christ interpreting this Law purposelie against the false glosse of the Iewish rabbines Mat. 5. that wee sweare not at all by the creatures nor rashlie and without iust cause by the Creator and that if wee passe yea and nay a simple deniall or affirmation whatsoeuer is more in our ordinarie speach in anger or mirth in contracts or conference proceeds from Sathan Secondlie the spirit of Christ in other Scriptures warnes often against this sinne Iames. 5.12 By Saint Iames hee assureth vs these sinnes are bound vp vnder wrath and condemnation and he chargeth vs to haue a most speciall regard against swearing By the Preacher Chap. 9.2 hee makes these two flat contrarie to sweare vainelie and to feare an oath The Turks sweare not but beâ—ng occasioned by great necessity If there bee any idle swearer among theÌ„ hee is not admitted for any place of gouernement of what conditioÌ„ soeuer he be in coÌ„mon wealth Guliel Tripoli by the Prophet Ier. 12.16 hee crieth against false Prophets which taught the people to sweare by Baal and Chap 5.7 against the whole Church for this sinne saying How should I spare thee for this thy children haue forsaken mee and sworne by them that are no Gods And by his lawes Deut. 28.58 Leu. 24.14.15 In the blinde time of Poperie in this land King Henry 5. made these good orders against this sinne If a Duke did sweare hee paid the poore fortie shillings If a Lord or Baron twentie shillings If a Knight or Esquier he paid tenne shillings If a Yeoman fortie pence If a page he was beaten naked with a whip Thirdlie I say that to sweare is to call him or that wee sweare by as a witnesse of the truth of our speech and action and to plague vs if we forsweare for our periurie Now the Lord alone is the searcher of all hearts and can alone finde out and reuenge periurie therefore is hee greatly dishonored and blasphemed when wee ascribe this power and honour to the creatures Now neither gouernours nor Prelates nor preachers feare any kind of oath Conci Carth. 4. ca. 16. Si clericus iurauerit excoÌ„muniretur et deponatur Lastly by the testimonie of the good martyr of God master Hooper hee speaketh in these words if common swearers be suffered to sweare without punishment the sin is so abhominable that assuredly the Maiestrates and whole common wealth are like in time to smart for it Such as honour God shall bee honoured and such as despise him shall bee dishonoured 1. Sam. 2.30 Quest 90. What is the second sinne here condemned Periurie Ans Periurie or forswearing and this sinne Gods holie veritie describes to bee the abuse or prophanation of the name of God for the confirmation of a lie Leu. 19.12 Mat. 5.33 This sinner will either make the Lord blind and weake and easie to bee deceiued or to testifie and approue an vntruth Iosh 7.9 For this cause Achan is warned by Ioshua beefore his death to giue glorie vnto God in the confession of the truth and not by periurie and wicked swearing to stane his holie name with a lye How many sins in periury In the sinne of periurie I find these foule and grose sinnes bred as in a monstrous bellie the first is a lie which is a false speech vttered purposely to deceiue and this proceedes from the Diuell Iohn 8.44 The second sinne here is an impious inuocation of God to testifie and approue a lie The third euill in periurie is a prophane contempt of Gods threatning wherein he auoucheth that hee will fearfully plague all periured persons Lastlie this sinner is a great plague to the common wealth and all humaine societies for what contracts and bands of loue can there bee among men where faith and truth are buried for a holy oath which this sinner prophaneth and scorneth is the last refuge among gods people to end all controuersies Heb. 6.16 Arguments against periury More arguments against this great and fearefull sinne may bee these following First 1. Gods threatnings the spirit of God speaking in the Scriptures threatneth often these men saying by his Prophet Zachr 5.3.4 The curse of the Lord of hostes shall enter into the house of the theefe and into the house of him that falsely sweareth by my name and it shall remaine in the midst of his house and shall consume it with the timber thereof and stones thereof And againe 1. Ch. 8.17 Let none of you imagine euill in his heart against his neighbour and loue no false oath And by his Prophet Dauid Psal 5.6 Thou shalt destroy them that speake lyes the Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitfull man Secondly 2. An example of Gods wrath for periurie hee plagueth this sinne in Dauids time with three yeeres famine on that land for that Ioshuas oath was not kept with the Gibeonites and when the seauen sonnes of Saul for violating that holy oath were executed it is said that God was appeased with the Land 2. Sam. 21.1.2.14 ver Thirdlie the very Gentiles did greatly abhorre this sinne 3. The Gentiles did abhor periurie as wee may see in the King of Babilon who put out the eies of Zedekiah for the breach of his oath made vnto him 2. Chron. 36.12.13 2. King 25.6 Fourthly the Christian Emperours cut of the tongues of periured persons and other nations puld them out at their necks Lastlie the Lords charge vnto these sinners was 5. The publike repentance of a periured person that they must testifie their humiliation to the Church as in that act of restitution by a publike confession with signes of their vnfained sorrow for this sin and they must prouide their sacrifice which must bee offered for them by the Priests with the prayers of the Church that God may bee reconciled with them in Iesus Christ Leu. 6.3 and 5. Chap. ver 4.5.6.7 Quest 91. What is the third sinne here condemned Ans In the third place wee may adde these sinnes Exorcismes adiurations by exorcismes and consecrations in the Popish Masse holy water coniurations and charmes in the profession and practise of witchcraft for by these the great name of God is greatly prophaned for coniurations and charmes can not bee practised without Scriptures Pater-nosters Aues and Creedes and such like good words First for exorcismes wee see in the practise of those stories Act. 19.13 the name of our Lord Iesus prophaned for Luke saith That certaine vagabond Iewes exorcistes tooke in hand to name ouer
all the workers of iniquitie shall bee for euer damned to hell The Prophet Esay also speaking of a second and renued estate of the Church alleadgeth such things as can neuer in mans reason bee applied to this world till it bee changed As Esa 11. ver 6. The Wolfe shall dwell with the Lambe and the Leopard shall lye with the Kidde And the Calfe the Lyon and the fat beasts together and the little Child shall lead them ver 7. And the Cow shall feede with the Beare their young ones shall lye together and the Lyon shall eat straw like the Bullocke ver 8. And the sucking child shall play vpon the hole of the Aspe and the weaned child shall put his hand vpon the nest of the Cockatrice ver 9. Then none shall hurt or destroy in the mountaine of my holinesse for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters that couer the sea ver 10. And in that day the roote of Ishay which shall stand vp for a signe vnto the people the nations shall seeke vnto it and his rest shall be glorious How can this eyther bee expounded of another estate then of this earth after the later day for till the later day I am sure this neuer was nor neuer will be Ans First of all the Prophet Dauid speaking in the forenamed Psalme of the generall estate of good and euill men as of two particular persons describeth by many comparisons the different ends and issues of one and other And I will shew you that it neuer entered into his head or that he dreamed of an earthly habitation after the later day but vnder the title of the lands inheritance of dwelling for euermore of possessing the earth hee meant according to the vse of all the Prophets the accomplishment of the Lords promises to his people Israell for the rooting out of the Philistines and other wicked people For so it pleased God to entise and draw vnto him that infant-church by worldly promises vntill they grew to bee more perfect by the reuelation of Iesus Christ Dauid Psalme 15.24 calleth the estate of saluation an ascending and inheriting the holy hill for whither the soule goeth after the first dissolution thether also shall the body ascend but I trust that there is no man in Christendome so paganlike minded that he date beleeue or once conceiue so much as a thought that the soules of men wander vpon the earth after their departure out of the body and if they doe let the Parable of the rich man and Lazarus confute them And surely the Prophet doth prophecie of the kingdome of Christ in this world before the later day for immediately before in the sixt verse hee speaketh of his incarnation in the flesh and ofspring of Ishai the father of Dauid and of his annointing by the holy Ghost wherby he should rule and gouerne his Church and immediately after he prophecieth the calling of the Iewes and their collection from the foure quarters of the world and that they shall raigne ouer the children of Ammon which they shall not after the later day and therefore that place of Scripture cannot bee applyed fitly to the state of the Elect after the later day But is an Allegorie of their peace after ther returne if so be they would cleaue to the Messias and not bee Infidels denying his person and not caring for all his promises otherwise for their faith and full confidence in God and for their affinitie with Christ in the flesh they should haue seene an end of all hostilitie in the world so that no more a man should striue with his brother nor beast with beast nor any of them against mankinde but all should bee obedient to men as to their Lord which was the estate of Adam in Paradise and this place of the Prophet Esay doth liuely set out vnto vs the louing condition of men and beasts one with other before the time that the Serpent beguiled our first parents And to returne to your first speech in your obiection that it would bee more comfortable to vs to bee righted in this world and here to raigne where we haue endured all misery I answer and say alas what ioy shall ther be to a soule which is fetched downe from heauen to dwell in the earth againe Would it haue beene any comfort for Ieroboam after he was king of Israel to haue gone back againe into Egipt and raigned there like a Lord and whether were it better to bee a king among Angels in heauen or to bee a commaunder and Lord among beasts of the earth Then I will conclude that as Abraham would not let Lazarus goe forth of his bosome into the world againe no not to preach repentance to sinners then much more shall not any of the Saints eyther in body or soule come againe after the later day to haue their owne particular glory vpon this earth refined So then it being cleare that wee shall goe immediately to heauen after the later day and not remaine here vpon earth for which cause those which shall be then aliue shall be taken vp into the ayre to meet with Christ I will conclude that this place of which wee neuer heard euill word ought to bee as the strongest motiue to straine and striue both body and soule for the attaining thereof For if Dauid had rather abide in the courts of the Lords house which was the temple at Ierusalem one day then in any other place a thousand surely one houre in heauen shall bee better then a thousand yeares of pleasure and glory heare vpon the earth For the sight of Christs glory in infirmitie I meane Peter and Iohn saw him transfigured in the mount Mat. 17. made them to forget themselues their wiues children meate drinke and returne home againe and to desire to dwell with Christ transfigured and Moses and Elias Much more therfore shall the sight of Christ in perfect glory and when wee also shall appeare with him in glory engender in vs ten thousand times more ioy and delight then we can haue in earth except heauen and all the hosts both of the Trinitie Angels and all Saints come downe from heauen for to dwell in the earth and therefore I firmely beleeue that wee shall bee in heauen and not vpon earth after the last iudgement Quest 55. Now then you haue perswaded mee in the place of the Sanits glory tell mee also the conditions of that life or so much as God hath recorded in his word and the Diuines haue obserued thereof according to your knowlegde Ans It is certaine that no man with the tongue of men and Angels is able perfectly to describe the estate of the Elect in heauen after the resurrection for the Apostle witnesseth that the eye hath not seene the eare hath not heard and it neuer entred into the heart of man the ioyes that are ordained and laid vp for vs in heauen and yet the seuerall names giuen