We come then to the first part of the Chapter : wherein Subdiuision of the first part . the Apostle keepes this order First , he sets downe a generall proposition of comfort , belonging to the iustified man . Secondly , he subioynes a confirmation thereof . Thirdly , he explanes his reason of confirmation : and fourthly , applies it ; 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. first , he points at the comfort ; Now then there is no 1 Proposition . 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. [ Now then . ] This is a relatiue to his former discourse , Coherence of this Chapter with the former . and is ( as I haue said ) a Conclusion , inferred vpon that which goeth before . Seeing we are iustified by Faith in Iesus Christ , and are now no more vnder the Law , but vnder Grace ; seeing we are buried 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 The Apostles former lamentation turned into a triumph . against the remanents of sinne , the sense whereof , in the end of the last Chapter made him burst out into 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 somtime 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 , seeing the bright shining glorie of Christ were rauished with ioy , but incontinent Math. 17. 2. 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 , and set our sinnes in order before vs , wee are Psal. 50. 21. sore troubled . As the troubles we haue in this life are not without comforts ; Blessed be God the Father of our Lord 2. Cor. 1. 3. Iesus , the Father of mercies , and God of all comfort , who comforts 1. Pet. 1. 3. 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 reserued for vs in heauen : the other of our manifold tentations , 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 by experience finde in themselues . Pascimur Bernard . 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 Psal. 125. 3. to lie vpon the back of the righteous , least they put out their hand to wickednesse , will farre lesse suffer his owne terrours continually to oppresse our consciences , least we faint & dispaire : Hose. 6. 2. though he wound vs , he will binde vs vp againe , after two daies he will reuiue 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 crie woe is me , sometime the Lord will put a song of thanksgiuing into his mouth , & make him to reioyce : thus , de aduersis & Chrisost. in Mat. ●om . prosperis admirabili virtute vitam Sanctorum contexuit Deus . The life of a Christian may be compared to a webbe , so meruailously mixed and wouen of comfort and trouble , by The life of a Christian is a mixed webbe , wrought of trouble and comfort . 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 with manifold comforts . And this haue we marked vpon the coherence of the beginning of this Chapter , with the end of the former .

Now in these words it is to be obserued , the Apostle saies Papist wrongfully collect here , that there is no sinne , or damnable act in them who are in Christ . not , there is no sinne in them who are in Christ ; but he saith , there is no condemnation to them : hee hath confessed before that he did the euill which he would not , and that hee saw a law in his members rebelling against the law of his minde , but now he 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 Aquinas , Caietane , on this place . est damnabile in illis qui sunt in Christo , nullus actus quo mereamur damnari : that in them who are in 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 ? we shall still confesse our guiltinesse , 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 Christ . Surely our righteousnesse in this life , consists rather in the remission of sinnes , then in the perfection of vertue . Ne quis sibi , quasi innocens placeat , cum Cyprian orat . dom. innocens nemo sit , & se ext●ll●ndo plus percat , 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 daylie , while as euery day he is commaunded to pray for remission of sinnes ; but this errour we shall God willing further improue hereafter .

In the meane time for our comfort let vs consider , that Reasons why the Lord suffers sin to remaine in the iustified man . Aug. in Ioan. tract. 41. albeit the Lord , when he iustified vs , might haue vtterlie 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 : 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 ) 1 For the exercise of our Faith . 2. Tim. 2. 5. the guiltinesse whereof God hath loosed , that they should not hurt vs in the life to come , he will haue to remaine for the exercise of our faith . No man is crowned , except he striue as he ought , and therefore the Lord who hath prepared for vs a Crowne , and hath put vpon vs his compleat armour , hath also suffered some enemies 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 or not , they would keepe the way of the Lord to walke in it .

Secondly , some life of sinne is left in vs for our instruction , that we may know the better how farre we are oblieged 2 For our instruction , that we may know what benefite we haue by Christ . to Gods mercy , & 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 patitur viuere in nobis , & grauiter nos affligere , vt Bernard . sentiamus 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 we felt how powerfull sinne is of it selfe to ouer-rule vs , wee could neuer haue knowne that vile bondage and seruitude of sinne , vnder which we lay by nature , nor that excellent Grace of Christ , by which we haue gotten deliuerance . And therefore so oft as we are troubled with our inhabitant corruption , we are to consider that if the remanents of the old man breed in vs such strong and restlesse tentations , how would it tyrannize ouer vs if it were liuing in the full vigour and strength thereof ? that so wee may praise and magnifie that sauing Grace of the Lord Iesus , which hath freed vs from so intollerable a tyrannie .

Thirdly , the Lord hath done this for his owne greater 3 For the greater glory of God , and Sathans greater confusion . glory , like vnto those Victors in battaile , who albeit they may , yet will not put all their enemies 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 honor of their Iosh. 10. 23. Conquerors . When Ioshua had discomfited those fiue Kings who made warre against Gibeon , hee would not slay them in the battaile , but enclosed 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 , he caused his Captaines and chiefe men of warre , to tread vpon the necks of those Kings , to assure them that after the same manner the Lord should subdue all the rest of their enemies vnder them . And so our Captaine and mighty conqueror , the Lord Iesus , hath by himselfe obtained vnto vs victorie ouer all our enemies , those Kings which besieged Gibeon are turned to slight , those 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 : The God of peace shall shortly tread Sathan vnder Rom. 16. 20. our feete . Then Goliah being ouercome , his Armie of the Philistines shall flie , and no inordinate desire shall be left within vs . Thus we see how the Lord permits his enemie to liue and will not ( fully ) torment him before the time : it is not because he wants power to subdue him , sed vt ●o magis Ciril . Catech. 8. confundatur , but that so much the more he may confound him . When as all the warriours of God , as well those who are to come in the last age of the world , as those who were in the fore-front of the battaile , haue foughten against him , and ouercome him , then shall the Lo●d Iesus put all his 1. Cor. 15. 25. enemies vnder his feet . Yea , euen now in the very time of the conflict is Sathan wonderfully confounded in this , that How Sathan is daily confounded in the godly . 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 therwith , but he 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 he can doe , there remaines in them a seed of life which cannot be destroyed ?

But that the greatnesse of this benefite which wee haue Christians are not exempted from the condemnatory sentence of men . by Iesus Christ , 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 hee absolueth or condemneth . As for mans condemnation ▪ we are not exempted from it . Daniel condemned for a Rebell : Ioseph condemned for an Adulterer : Io● condemned of his friends for an Hypocrit : our Sauiour condemned for an Enemie to C●sar : 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 for 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 : he will at the last plead the cause of his Seruants , and bring their righteousnesse to light .

This condemnation then from which wee are deliuered , But from the condemnatory sentence of God . is the sentence of God th righteous Iudge , by which finding man guiltie of sinne , for sinne , he adiudgeth him vnto eternall damnation : from this all they , who are in Christ are deliuered : He that beleeueth in him who sent Iohn . 5. 24. mee hath euerlasting ▪ life , and shall not come into condemnation , but hath passed from death to life . In this condemnation Three sundry times the Lord keepes against the wicked in the processe of their condemnation . Psal. 50. 5. the Lord proceeds at three sundry dyats against the wicked . First , he 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 , and him that contemn●th God euery day . After 1 The first is kept against them in the Iustice Court of their owne Conscience . sinne committed by him , there ariseth in his Conscience accusing thoughts , and there is a sentence within him , giuen out against him . The Apostle speakes it of Heretikes , one sort of wicked men ; and is it true in them all , 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 condemnatorie 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 be silenced , and Conscience shall pronounce sentence against them with so shrill a voyce that their deafest care 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 mercie ; For if Conscience condemne 1. Ioh. 3. 20. vs , God is greater then the Conscience , and will much more condemne vs . Ascendat itaque homo tribunal mentis suae , Aug. hom. 50 si timet 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 time of iudgement , which the Lord keepes 2 The second is kept against them in the houre of death . against the wicked , 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 therfore 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 yeares , is not the day of thy particular iudgement at hand , vnto which thou shalt be drawne sodainely , and perforce , in the midst of thy deceiuing imaginations thou shalt be 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 hee 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 wee be found in the day of iudgement . In quo enim quemque Aug. epist. ad Hesych . inuenerit suus nouissimus dies , in hoc cum comprehendet mundinouissimus dies , quia qualis in die isto quisque moritur , talis in die illo iudicabitur ; and euery man in the last day shall be iudged to be such as he is when he 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 dyat of iudgement shall be most fearefull , 3 The third dyat shall be kept against them in the day of generall iudgement . when all the wicked being gathered together in one shall be condemned in that high and supreame court of iustice , which the Lord shall hold vpon all that euer took ▪ life ; then shall the full measure of the wrath of God be powred vpon all those who are not in Christ Iesus , both in soule and body they shall be punished with euerlasting perdition . This iudgement shall be most equitable : for when that Ancient of dayes , shal sit down vpon his white throne , before whose face heauen and earth shall flee away , and Dan. 12. 6. when the Sea , and the Earth , hath rendred vp their dead , then the bookes shall be opened , according to which he shall Reuel. 10. 8. proceed vnto iudgement . And the bookes are two : the This iudgement shall proceede , by the bookes of Law , and Conscience . booke of the law , which shewed to a man what he should doe ; and the booke of Conscience , which shewed him what hee hath done ; by those shall the wicked man be iudged , and he shall not be able to make exception against any of them : against the booke of the law , hee shall be able to speake nothing : for the Commandements of the Lord are Psal. 19. 9. pure , and righteous altogether . And as for the booke of conscience , thou canst not denye it , the Lord shall not iudge thee by another 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 , the iudgement shall How the wicked shall be conuicted by the booke of the Law . proceede 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 heart of euery man ; ●or equity 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 proclaimed it on mount Sinai , was assisted with a thousand of his Saints , as witnesses of the holinesse thereof : all these circumstances doe aggrauate the waight of that iudgement which the law shall giue out against the transgressors thereof . Then from the Law iudgement shall proceede How they shal be conuicted by the booke of conscience . 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 particular 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 faslie to Iob , thy owne mouth and not I Iob. 15. 6. condemnes thee ; but most iustly shall the ruler of the world lay it vpon the wicked , out of thy owne mouth I iudge thee , Luke . 19. 22. O thou euill and vnfaithfull seruant , the voyce of thine own conscience , and no other shall condemne thee

And as this condemnation will be most righteous , so This iudgment shall also be most terrible . shall it be also most fearefull , not onely in regard of the manner of the Lords proceeding in that last iudgement , but chiefly in regard of that irreuocable sentence of damnation , Exod. 19. 16. which shall be executed without delay . The Law Moses trembled for feare at the giuing of the law , what will the wicked doe at the execution therof ? was giuen with Thunders and Lightnings , and a thicke cloud vpon the mount , with an exceeding loud 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 ? the Heauens shall passe away with a Reuel. 6. 14. 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 ? Then shall the Kings of the Earth , and the great men , and the Reu. 6. 15. rich m●n , 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 be giuen out , they shall crie 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 , Depart from me yee cursed into euerlasting fire , prepared Mat. 25. 41. for the Diuell and his Angels ; O how shall the terror 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 commands it to depart , and by his power banishes it from his presence ? O man wilt thou consider in time , who shall receiue Remembrance of this last iudgment , is a preseruatiue against sinne . thee when God casts thee out from his face ? or who shall pittie and be able to comfort thee , when God shall persecute thee with his wrath ? assure thy selfe euery creature shall refuse her comfort to thee , if a drop of cold water might be a reliefe vnto thee thou shalt not get it . Happie therefore are they who in time resolue themselues with Peter , Lord whither away shall we goe from thee , thou hast Math. 10. the words 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 , Goe to the Gods whom ye haue serued . Your whole life was but a Iud. 10. 14. Math. 25. 41. turning backe from me , now therefore depart from me , and whither ? into fire : and what fire ? euerlasting fire : and with whom ? with the Diuell and his Angels : thou hast forsaken me , thou hast followed them , goe thy way with them , a companion of their torment . O fearefull sentence ! Quae Augustine . cum ita sint bene nobis●um ag●r●tur , si i●m nunc sic nos paeniteret super malis nostris , q●om●do 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 be fruitlesse .