We come then to the first part of the Chapter , Subdiuision of the first part . wherein the Apostle keepes this order . First , hee sets downe a generall proposition of comfort belonging to the iustified man . Secondly , he subioynes a confirmation therof . Thirdly , he explanes his reason of confirmation , and fourthly , applyes i●first by commination of them who walke after the flesh , secondly , by consolation of the godly against the remanents of the flesh , thirdly , by exhortation of both not to walke after the flesh . In the proposition againe set downe , Verse 1. Proposition . first , he points at the comfort ; Now then there is no condemnation : secondly , he sets downe a limitation , restrayning this comfort ; To them who are in Christ : thirdly , hee subioynes a clearer declaration of those persons who are in Christ , to wit , they walk not after the flesh , but after the spirit .

Verse 1. Coherence of this Chapter with the former . Now then . This is a relatiue to his former discourse , and is ( as I haue said ) a Conclusion inferred vpon that which goeth before . Seeing wee are iustified by Faith in Iesus Christ , and are now no more vnder the Law , but vnder Grace ; seeing we are buryed with Christ by Baptisme into his death , that like as he was raised from the dead by the glory of his Father , so we also should walke in newnesse of life , hauing receiued that spirit of Christ , whereby wee fight against the Law of sinne in our members , which rebelleth against the Law of our minde : seeing it is so , we may be sure that the remanent power of sinne in vs , shall neuer be able to condemne vs .

We see then that these words containe the Apostles glorying against the remanents of sinne , The Apostles former lamentation turned into a triumph . the sense whereof , in the end of the last Chapter made him burst out in a pittifull lamentation , and cry ; O miserable man , who will deliuer me from the body of this death , but now considering the certaintie of his deliuerance by Iesus Christ , he reioyceth and triumpheth . Wherein for our first lesson , we marke the diuersitie of dispositions , to which the Children of God are subiect in this life , sometime so full of comfort that they can not containe themselues , but must needs breake forth into glorious reioycings : at other times so far deiected in mind , that their ioy is turned into mourning ; and this ariseth in them from the variable change of their sight and feeling . The Disciples on mount Tabor , Math. 17. 2. seeing the bright shining glorie of Christ were rauished with ioy , but incontinent when the cloud ouershadowes them , they become afraid . If the Lord let vs feele his mercies , wee are aliue , but if hee hide his face , Psal. 50. 21. and set our sinnes in order before vs , wee are sore troubled . The life of a Christian is a mixed webbe , wrought of trouble and comfort . As the troubles wee haue in this life are not without comforts ; blessed bee God the Father of our Lord Iesus , the Father of mercies , and God of all comfort , who comforts vs in all our tribulation : so our ioy , saith Saint Peter , is not without heauinesse , the one arising of the knowledge of that vndeserued inheritance , 2 Cor. 1. 3. reserued for vs in heauen : the other of our manifold tentations , 1 Pet. 1. 3. to which wee are subiect here vpon earth ; it is these vicissitudes and changes which wrought in Dauid such different dispositions , as appeareth in him in the Booke of the Psalmes , and which all the godly may be experience finde in themselues , Bernard . Pascimur hic & patimur : for here we are so nourished with the comforts of God , that we are nurtred with his crosses . It is the Lords dispensation , and we are to reuerence it , resting assured that the peace and ioy which once the Lord hath giuen vs , may be interrupted , but can neuer vtterly be taken from vs , the Lord who will not suffer the rod of the wicked for euer to lie vpon the back of the righteous , Psal. 125. 3. least they put out their hand to wickednesse , will f●rre lesse suffer his owne terrours continually oppresse our consciences , least we faint and dispaire , though he wound vs , Hose. 6. 2 he will binde vs vp againe , after two daies he will reuine vs , and we shall liue in his sight ; Weeping may abide in the Euening , but ioy shall come in the Morning . The chosen vessell of God shall not alway lament , and cry woe is me , sometime the Lord will put a song of thanksgiuing in his mouth , Chrisost. in Mat. hom. and make him to reioyce , thus de aduersis & prosperis admir abilivirtute vitam Sanctorum contexuit Deus . The life of a Christian may bee compared to a webbe , so meruailously mixed and wouen of comfort and trouble , by the hand of God , that the long thread thereof reaching from the day of our birth to the day of our death , are all of trouble , but the weft interiected , manifold comforts , and this haue we marked vpon the coherenee of the beginning of this Chapter , with the end of the former .

Now in these words it is to be obserued , Papist wrongfully collect here , that there is sin on , or damnable act in them who are in Christ . the Apostle saies not , there is no sinne in them who are in Christ , but he saith , there is no condemnation to them : he hath confessed before that he did the euill which he would not , and that he saw a law in his members rebelling against the law of his minde , but now hee reioyceth in Christ , that sinne in him is not able to condemne him . It is then a false exposition of these words , which is made by Caietane and Aquinas : Nihil est damnabile in illis , Aquinas , Caietane on this place . qui sunt in Christo , nullus actus quo mereamur damnari , that in them who are is Christ , there is nothing worthy to be damned , no act that merits damnation : for the Apostle condemnes these motions of sinne , which he found in himselfe , as euill and repugnant to the Law of God : and if the holy Apostle was not ashamed to confesse this of himselfe , what blinde presumption is this in them , to exempt themselues , or others from such motions , as are worthy to be damned , wee shall still confesse our guiltines , there remaines in vs of our owne which the Lord might condemne , if he would enter into iudgement with vs , and shall so much the more praise his mercie , who hath deliuered vs from condemnation : and further comfort then this the Apostles words do not afford vnto vs , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . There is no iudgement , no sentence to be giuen against them who are in Chrst. Surely our righteousnesse in this life , consists rather in the remission of sinnes , then in the perfection of vertue . Cypriain orat . dom. Ne quis sibi , quasi innocens placeat , cum innocens nemo sit , & se extollendo plus pereat , instruitur & docetur , peccare se quotidie , dum quotidie pro peccatis iubetur orare , that no man ( saith Cyprian ) should flatter himselfe , as though he wer innocent , when as indeed no man is innocent , and so by extolling himselfe , should perish so much the more , he is instructed and taught that he sinnes , while as euery day hee is commaunded to pray for remission of sins , but this errour we shall God willing further improue hereafter .

In the meane time for our comfort let vs consider , Reasons why the Lord suffers sin to remaine in the iustified man . that albeit the Lord , when hee iustified vs , might haue vtterly destroyed the life of this sinning sinne in vs , yet for waighty causes hath he suffered some life thereof to abide in vs for a time : For the exercise of our Faith . the first is , for the exercise of our faith , Peccata quorum reatum Soluit Deus , ne post hanc vitam obsint , manere tamen voluit ad certamen fidei ; these sinnes ( saith Augustine ) the guiltinesse whereof God hath loosed , that they should not hurt vs in the life to come , Aug. in Ioan. tract. 41. hee will haue to remaine for the exercise of our faith . No man is crowned , except he striue as he ought , 2. Tim. 2. 5. and therefore the Lord who hath prepared for vs a crowne , and hath put vpon vs his compleat armour , hath also suffered some enimies to remaine , against whom we may fight , for the tryall of our faith , patience and perseuerance , euen as the Cananites were left in the Land , that the Lord by them might proue the Israelits , whether if or not , they would keepe the way of the Lord to walke into it .

Secondly , For our instruction that we may know what benefite we haue by Christ . some life of sinne is left in vs for our instruction , that wee may know the better how farre we are oblieged to Gods mercy , and how excellent is that deliuerance which we haue by Iesus Christ . Nulla quidem est condemnatio his qui sunt in Christo , tamen ad humiliandos nos peccatum adhuc patitu● vi●tere in nobis , & grauiter nos affligere , vt sentiamus , Bernard . quid gratia nobis praestet , & semper ad illius auxilium recurramus . It is true indeed ( saith Bernard ) that there is no condemnation to them who are in Christ , yet for our humiliation the Lord suffers sinne to liue in vs , and oftentimes afflict vs , that we may know the benefit wee haue by Grace , and make our recourse for helpe vnto it continually , and indeed , except by experience wee felt how powerfull sin is of it selfe to ouer rule vs , we could neuer haue knowne that vile bondage and seruitude of sinne , vnder which wee lay by nature , nor that excellent Grace of Christ , by which we haue gotten deliuerance . And therefore so oft as wee are troubled with our inhabitant corruption , we are to consider , that if the remanents of the old man breed vs such strong and restlesse tentations , how would it tyrannize ouer vs , if it were liuing in the full vigour , & strength thereof ? that so we may praise and magnifie that sauing Grace of the Lord Iesus , which hath freed vs from so intollerable a tyrannie .

Thirdly , For the greater glory of God , and Sathans greater confusion . the Lord hath done this for his own greater glory , like vnto those Victors in battaile , who albeit they may , yet will not put all their enimies to the edge of the sword , some of them they take Captiues , and reserues for a while aliue against the day of triumph , to be put then to death , to their greater shame , and the greater honour of their Conquerours . Iosh. 10. 23. When Ioshua had discomfited those fiue Kings , who made warre against Gibeon , hee would not slay them in the battaile , but inclosed them in a caue , that the battell being ended , he might put them to death in sight of all his people : and then for their further confirmation , hee caused his Captaines and chiefe men of warre , to tread vpon the necks of these Kings , to assure them that after the same manner the Lord should subdue all the rest of their enimies vnder them . And so our Captaine & mightie conquerour , the Lord Iesus , hath by himselfe obtained vnto vs victorie ouer all our enimies , these Kings which besieged Gibeon are turned to flight , these inordinate affections , which held vs Captiues before , are now by his power captiued of vs , they are closed vp within vs ( as in a Caue ) where they remaine with some life , but restrained of their former libertie and power . And we rest assured , that when the battaile shall be finished , our Lord Iesus shall altogether spoyle them of their life : Rom. 16. 20 The God of peace shall shortly tread Sathan vnder our feete : then Goliah being ouercome , his army of the Philistines shall flie , and no inordinate desire shall bee left within vs . Thus wee see how the Lord permits his enimie to liue , and will not ( fully ) torment him before the time , it is not because he wants power to subdue him , Ciril . catech. 8. Set vt ●o magis confundatur , but that so much the more he may confound him . When as all the warriours of God , aswell those who are to come in the last age of the world , as those who were in the forefront of the battaile , haue foughten against him , and ouercome him , 1 Cor. 15. 25 then shall the Lord Iesus put all his enimies vnder his feete . Yea , euen now in the very time of the conflict is Sathan wonderfully confounded in this , How Sathan is daily confounded in the godly . that notwithstanding the Serpent keepe his sting , yet there is no deadly power in it . This vncircumcised Goliah hath that same sword in his hand , by which he hath slaine many one , the Lord permits him also to strike the Christian man therewith , but hee sees himselfe it is in vaine . O how doth he returne ashamed and confounded , when hauing gotten leaue to shoot out his sting , and to strike with his accustomed sword ( of sinne ) those whom he hateth vnto death , he perceiues that for all hee can doe , there remaines in them a seed of life which cannot be destroyed ?

But that the greatnesse of this benefite which we haue by Iesus Christ , Christians are not exempted from the condemnatory sentence of men . may the better appeare , let vs see what a condemnation this is , from which we are deliuered . In the Scriptures there is ascribed to man a iudging , by which he absolueth or condemneth ; there is also ascribed to God a iudging , by which he absolueth or condemneth , As to mans condemnation , we are not exempted from it . Daniel condemned for a Rebell , Ioseph condemned for an Adulterer ; Iob condemned of his friends for an Hypocrit ; our Sauiour condemned for an Enimie to Caesar ; his Disciples condemned and iudged worthy of stripes , stand as so many examples to confirme vs , that we faint not when we are condemned of men : yea , with the Apostle we must learne to passe little from mans iudgement , and striue in a good conscience to be approued of God , for sure the Lord will not peruert iudgement , it is farre from the Iudge of all the world to doe vnrighteously , hee will at the last plead the cause of his Seruants , and bring their righteousnesse to light .

This condemnation then , But from the condemnatory sentence of God . from which wee are deliuered , is the sentence of God the righteous Iudge , by which finding man guiltie of sinne , for sinne hee ad●●dgeth him vnto eternall damnation , from this all they , who are in Christ are deliuered : Iohn . 5. 24. Hee that beleeueth in him who sent mee , hath euerlasting life , and shall not come into condemnation , but hath passed from death to life . In this condemnation the Lord proceedes at three sundry dyats against the wicked . Three sundry dyats the Lord keepes against the wicked in the processe of their condemnation . First , hee condemneth them in the Court of Conscience . Next , in the day of their particular iudgement . Thirdly , in the day of generall Iudgement . First , ( I say ) the Lord holdeth a Iustice Court against the wicked in his owne Conscience : For the Lord iudgeth the righteous , The first is kept against them in the iustice court of their owne Conscience . and him that contemneth God euery day . After sinne committed by him , there ariseth in his Conscience accusing thoughtes , and there is a sentence within him , giuen out against him . The Apostle speakes it of Heretikes , one sort of wicked men , and it is true in them all , Psal. 50. 5. they sinne , being damned of their owne selues , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , by themselues Iudgement is giuen out against themselues : which sentence albeit euery wicked man doe not marke the voyce of their disordered affections , sometime being so loud , that they heare not the condemnato●ie voyce of their Conscience , so clearely as it is pronounced , yet doe they heare as much , as makes them inexcusable , and breedes in them a certaine feare and terrour , which is but a fore-runner of a more fearefull iudgement to come , which howsoeuer in time of their securitie they labour to smoother , and quench by externall delights , yet at the length affection shall bee silenced , and Conscience shall pronounce sentence against them with so sh●ill a voyce , that their deafest eare shall heare it . This I haue marked , that we may learne not to esteeme lightly the Iudgement of our Conscience , but that so oft as wee are condemned by it , wee may make our refuge to the throne of Grace to seeke mercy ; ● Ioh. 3. 20 For if Conscience condemne vs , God is greater then the Conscience , and will much more condemne vs , Aug. hom. 50 Ascendat itaque homo tribunal mentis suae , si 〈◊〉 illud , meminerit , quod oportet eum , ante tribunal Christi exhiberi . Let therefore a man ( saith Augustine ) goe vp to the tribunall of his owne mind ( in time ) if he feare it , let him remember that he must be presented before a greater tribunall .

The second dyat of iudgement , which the Lord keepes against the wicked , The second is kept against them in the houre of death is in the houre of death , wherein the Lord doth not onely repeat their former sentence of condemnation , and that in a more fearefull and iudiciall manner , but proceeds also to execution , adiudging their bodies ( vntill the day of last iudgement ) to the prison of the graue , to vnderly that curse pronounced on man for his Apostasie , and condemning their spirits to be banished from the presence of God , and cast into vtter darknesse . Let not therefore the wicked man nourish himselfe in sinne , with a vaine conceit of the delay of iudgement , wherefore wilt thou put farre from thee the euill day ? what , suppose the day of generall iudgement were not to come for many yeeres , is not the day of thy perticular iudgement at hand ? vnto which thou shalt be drawne sodainely , and perforce in the midst of thy deceiuing imaginations , thou shalt bee taken away in an houre wherein thou thought not to dye , more miserable than that rich glutton , who hauing stored his head with false conclusions , dreaming of many dayes to come , when he had not one , was that same day taken away to iudgement . And this shall moue vs the more , if we doe remember , that such as we are in the day of death , such shall we bee found in the day of iudgement . Aug. epist. ad Hesych . In quo enim quemque invenerit suns nouissimus dies , in hoc eum comprehendet mundi nouissimus dies , quia qualis in die ifto quisque moritur , talis in die illo iudicabitur , and euery man in the last day shall be iudged to bee such , as hee is when hee dyeth . It would waken vs all more carefully to thinke vpon our end , that so we might prepare our selues for this second dyat of iudgement .

But the third day of iudgement shall be most fearefull , The third dyat shall bee kept against them in the day of generall iudgement . when all the wicked being gathered together in one shall bee condemned , in that high and supreame court of iustice , which the Lord shall hold vpon all that euer tooke life , then shall the full measure of the wrath of God bee powred vppon all those who are not in Christ Iesus , both in soule and body , they shall bee punished with euerlasting perdition . This iudgement shall bee most equitable , for when that Ancient of dayes , shal sit downe vpon his white throne , before whose face heauen and earth shall flee away , Dan. 12. 6. and when the Sea , and the Earth , hath rendred vp their dead , then the bookes shall bee opened , Reuel. 10. 8. according to which hee shall proceed vnto iudgement . This iudgment shall proceede , by the bookes of Law , and Conscience . And the bookes are two , the booke of the law , which sheweth to a man what the should doe ; and the booke of Conscience , which sheweth him what hee hath done ; by those shall the wicked man bee iudged , and hee shall not bee able to make exception against any of them : against the booke of the law , hee shall bee able to speake nothing , Psal. 19. 9. for the Commandements of the Lord are pure , and righteous altogether . And as to the booke of conscience , thou canst not denye it , the Lord shall not iudge thee by an other mans conscience , but by thine owne ; that booke thou hast had it alway in thine owne keeping , who then could falsifie it ? neither is any thing written in it of things thou hast done , but that which thine owne hand hath written , how then canst thou make any exception against it ?

Thus the bookes being opened , How the wicked shall bee conuicted by the booke of the Law . the iudgement shall proceed in this manner . The Law shall pleade for transgression of her precepts , requiring that the wicked may be put to death , for their most vnreasonable disobedience , her commandements for number being but ten , and so not burdenable to the memorie ; for vnderstanding plaine , written in the hart of euery man ; for equitie not contradictable , for the Law craueth nothing of man , but that which by the holinesse of his nature receiued by Creation , hee was able to performe , neither doth the law command any thing profitable to God , who gaue it , but vnto man , who receiued it . And for holinesse euery precept of the law , when God proclaymed it on mount Sinai , was assisted with a thousand of his Saints , as witnesses of the holinesse therof : all these circumstances doe aggrauate the waight of that iudgement which the law shall giue out against the transgressors thereof . How they shal be conuicted by the booke of conscience . Then from the Law iudgement shall proceede to Conscience , and Conscience shall witnesse against them of their transgressions against euery precept of the law ; wherein they shall be so cleerely conuinced , that their perticular sinnes with the circumstances thereof , time , and place , though now they haue cast them behind their backs , shall then be set in order before them ; and so iustly euery manner of way shall iudgement goe out against them . Eliphaz spoke it falslie to Iob , Iob. 15. 6. thy owne mouth and not I condemnes thee , but most iustly shall the ruler of the world lay it vpon the wicked , Luk. 19. 22. out of thy owne mouth I iudge thee , O thou euill and vnfaithfull seruant , the voyce of thine own conscience , and no other shall condemne thee .

And as this condemnation will bee most righteous , This iudgment shall also bee most terrible . so shall it bee also most fearefull , not onely in regard of the manner of the Lords proceeding in that last iudgement , but chieflie in regard of that irrevocable sentence of damnation , Exod. 19. 16. which shall be executed without delay . The Law was giuen with Thunders and Lightnings , Moses trembled for feare at the giuing of the Law what will the wicdoe at the execution thereof ? and a thicke cloud vpon the mount , with an exceeding loude sound of the Trumpet , so that all the people were afraide ; yea so terrible was the sight , that Moses said I feare , and quake . The lawes of mighty Monarches are executed with greater terror , then they are proclaymed ; what then shall we looke for , when the God of glory shall appeare , to iudge the world according to his law ? Reuel. 6. 14. the Heauens shall passe away with a noyse , the Elements shall melt with heate , the Earth with the workes which are therein shall be burnt vp , the Archangell shall blow a Trumpet , at the voyce whereof the dead shall rise . If Moses the seruant of the Lord , quaked to heare the first Trumpet , how shall the wicked , condemned in their owne conscience tremble , and quake to heare the second ? Reu. 6. 15. Then shall the Kings of the Earth , and the great men , and the rich men , and the chiefe Captaines , and the mightie men , hide themselues in the Dennes , and among the rockes of the Mountaines : ( for what strength is there in man , who is but stubble , to stand before a consuming fire ? ) and or euer their doome bee giuen out , they shall crye Mountaines and Rockes fall vpon vs , and hide vs from the presence of him that sitteth on the Throne , but when they shall heare that fearefull sentence , Mat. 25. 41. depart from me yee cursed into euerlasting fire , prepared for the Diuell and his Angels ▪ O how shall the terrour thereof confound their spirits , and presse them downe to the bottome of hell . O fearefull sentence ! ( depart from me ) what shall the creature doe , when the Creator in his wrath commaunds it to depart , and by his power banishes it from his presence ? O man wilt thou consider in time , Remembrance of this last iudgment is a preser●atiue against sinne . who shall receiue thee when God casts thee out from his face ; or who shall pittie and bee able to comfort thee , when God shal persecute thee with his wrath ? assure thy selfe euery creature shall refuse her comfort to thee , if a drop of colde water might bee a reliefe vnto thee thou shalt not get it . Happie therefore are they who in time resolues themselues with Peter , Math. 10. Lord whether away shall wee goe from thee , thou hast the wordes of eternall life . For they who doe now goe a whoring from the LORD , wandring after lying vanities , shall in that day receiue this for a recompence of their errour , Iud. 10. 14. goe to the Gods whom yee haue serued . Mat. 25. 41. Your whole life was but a turning backe from mee , now therefore depart from mee , and whether ? into fire , and what fire ? euerlasting fire , and with whom ? with the Diuell and his Angels : thou hast forsaken , mee , thou hast followed them , goe thy way with them , a companion of their torment . O fearefull sentence ! quae cum it a sint bene nobiscum ageretur , Augustine . si iam nunc sic nos paeniteret super malis nostris , quomodo tunc sine vllo remedio paenitebit . It were good therefore sayes Augustine , if now all men could so repent of their sinnes , as it is certaine in that day they shall repent without any remedie , for then the wicked will shed teares aboundantly , but they shall bee fruitlesse .

And if yet all this cannot waken thee to goe to the Lord Iesus vpon the feete of faith and repentance , The day before the last iudgement Mercy shall be offered , but none after it . that in him thou mayest bee deliuered from this fearefull damnation , yet remember that seeing this iudgement is supreame and the last , from which will bee no recalling , most foolish art thou , if in time thou doe not foresee and prouide , how thou mayest stand in it . Now if thy conscience condemne thee , thou may get if thou , seeke absolution in Christ , but in that day if the Lord condemne thee , thou shalt neuer be absolued ; the day before the Trumpet sound , mercy shall bee preached to the penitent and beleeuers by the Gospell , but from the time that once the sentence is giuen out , there shall neuer bee more offering of mercy ; the doore shall be closed , though the wicked cry for mercy , and with Esau seeke the blessing with many teares , yet shall they neuer finde it .

Of all this now it is euident , By Christ wee haue deliuer●ce from this three fold condemnation . what an excellent benefit wee haue by Iesus Christ , in that we are deliuered from this threefold condemnation . For first being iustified by faith we haue peace with God in our consciences , that holy spirit of adoption testifying vnto vs that our sinnes are forgiuen vs : whereof arises in our heart an vnspeakable and glorious ioy , which ioy notwithstanding cannot be full nor perfect vntill the former sentence of our absolution be also pronounced , in the other two iudgements , that in the houre of death wee heare that ioyfull sentence , Mat. 25. 21. Come to mee thou ( with the Apostle ) the terrour of that day , but surely when the Lord shall set vs on mount Sion among those thousands which follow the Lambe , and we shall see the smoake of the damned ascending continually ; when we shall stand at the right hand of the Lord Iesus , and shall heare that fearefull sentence pronounced on the wicked , and see the speedie and terrible execution thereof , the earth opening incontinent to swallow them , then shall we perfectly know , how greatly the Lord hath magnified his mercies towards vs , in deliuering vs from so fearefull a condemnation .

Last of all , How miserable are they who are not in Christ ? as this is the happy estate of them who are in Christ , that now there is no condemnation for them , so is it the contrary miserable estate of the damned , doe what they will , euery action of their life makes out the processe of their most iust condemnation , for to the vncleane all things are vncleane , yea , euen their consciences are defiled , and their prayer is abhominable and turned into sinne , but thanks be to God through Iesus Christ , who hath deliuered vs from this most vnhappie condition .