[The dreadfull day dolorous to the wicked. In two sermons. By William Leigh.]

THE DREADFVLL DAY . The first Sermon . Hebrewes . 9. vers . 27.28 .

27. And as it is appointed vnto men that they shall once die , and after that commeth the iudgement .

28. So Christ was once offered to take away the sinnes of manie , and vnto them that looke for him , shall he appeare the second time , without sin vnto saluation .

THIS Scripture which I haue read issuing from the riuer of life , being pure as gold , and cleare as Christall , doth discouer vnto vs , a threefold day-dawning out of the bright cloud of the Lords decree and determined counsell ouer all flesh .

1. One is the daie of death in these words . It is appointed vnto all men that they shall once die .

2 Another is , the daie of doome , out of these words ; And after that commeth iudgement .

3 The third and last is , the day of deliuerance from both by Christ , out of these words ; So Christ was once offered to take away the sinnes of many , & vnto them that looke for him , he shal appeare the second time , without sinne vnto saluation ?

The day of death , it killeth all , and bringeth to the graue .

The day of doome , it raiseth all , and bringeth vnto iudgement .

The day of deliuerie , it sendeth all , and destinateth for euer , the good to the resurrection of saluation , whither God bring vs : And the euill to the resurrection of condemnation , from which the Lord deliuer vs.

Or thus , death is the Empresse of this world , it seazeth vpon all .

Iudgment hath the command of another world ; it sommoneth all : Christ hath the soueraigntie of both worlds , he sentenceth all , irreuocable is his doome , and there lies no appeale from it .

Pardon me my brethren , if I spare to speake of death , hauing heretofore spent my spirits & strength on that subiect , when with the poore Gadaren often I haunted the graues of your dead in their seuerall Funeralls , & wounded my self with the stones of their sepulchers .

Two sermons are published to the world , I pray God they may be profitable , it was the best perfume I had for the liuing , and finest Syndon , I could prouide for the dead .

So discharged of death as I haue said , heare me in your wonted patience , whilest I discouer vnto you the day of doome , and that other of our deliuerance by Christ , I say deliuerance from darke Egipt , into bright Gosan : from great Sodome , into litle Soar : from the miserie of this life , to the mercie of a better : from death here , to life there : and as it is in my text , from sinne , to saluation , to all such as looke and long for Christ his second comming .

To the due consideration whereof , and the rather to stir vp your due deuotion , and like preparation both of lampe & light , against that great day , giue me leaue with milde Moses , to charge all men , that their thoughts are extrauagant , without sense or feeling of that fearefull fire . O that men were wise ( saith he ) then would they vnderstand this , Deut . 32.29 . then would they consider their latter end .

As , and if he should say , that which another hath well said from his spirit & passion : O that men were wife , then would they vnderstand things past , things present , things to come : things past with griefe , things present with shame : things to come with feare , things past as the euill we haue committed : the good we haue omitted , and the time we haue lost , all past , and yet we grieue not .

Things present , as shortnes of life , difficultie of saluation , & the small number of the saued , all present , and yet we shame not .

Things to come , as death , thē which there s nothing more miserable : Iudgement , then which there s nothing more terrible : & the paines of hell , then which there is nothing more intollerable , and all to come , and yet we feare not .

The reason of all this defection is rendred by Moses in the precedent 28. verse , we are a Nation ( saith he ) ( we are a world say we voyd of counsell , neither is there any vnderstanding in vs , we feele no mercy , we feare no iudgment , he hath spent his plagues vpon vs , he hath shot his arrowes at vs , tipped with gall and sorrow , as famine , sword , and pestilence , & yet we are secure in our sinnes , we are frozen in our dregges , we melt not , what would we haue God to do , shall he come in mercie still , & not in iudgment ? shall he in his loue chearish vs ? and not in his wrath rebuke vs ? What will we haue God to doe ?

The Gospell of our Christ hath run floudwise into the remotest parts of this world , and thousand of yeares haue enioyed our Christ with his solemne feasts , Sacraments and Sabboths , now if we sinne willingly after we haue receiued and acknowledged that truth , there remaines no more sacrifice for sinnes as the Apostle saith , Hebr . 10.26 . but a dreadfull looking for of iudgement , and violent fire which shall deuour the aduersaries . Fire , I say fire , euen that fire wherewith Moses threatned the Israel of Iuda , and in them the Israel of all the world , for the like contempt , Deuter . 32.22 . fire is kindled in my wrath , and shall burne into the bottome of hell , & shall consume the earth , with her increase , and set on fire the foundations of the mountaines , Et lugenda dei iudicia in delinquentes , as one saith ; That there shall be a fire is much , that this fire shall be kindled is more , but that it shall be kindled in the wrath of God , is most of al : the flame whereof shall burne into the bottome of hell , consume the earth , and the foundations of the mountaines .

Now of this fearefull & finall fire must I speake if God will , and therefore flie out my voyce , and be strong my spirit , to speake with passion what the iudgment shall be .

When Lord Aeneas should relate vnto Dido , Queene of Carthage , the lamentable siege and sacking of Troy , he began his speech with this passion , Infandum Regina iubes renouare dolorem , troian as vt opes & lamentabile regnum , eruerint Danaj .

A dolefull wo●ke me to renue ô queene thou doest constraine , to tell how Greeks the Troyan wealth , and lamentable raigne , did ouerthrowe .

A better spirit bids me speake of the siege and sacking of this world , whereof Troy was but a drop to the great Ocean , and not to be destroyed by the Grecian Lords , but by the great God of heauen : how can I thē tell of that without mourning ? How can you heare thereof , without moane , being a worke of woe and wonder , a worke of feare and fire , so is the last iudgement .

Of which iudgement , I pray you consider with me these two things out of my text .

1 First , that iudgement shall come , for so is it here said . After death commeth ïudgement .

2 Secondly , for what cause this iudgment shall come , to wit , to cleare the godly , & condemne the wicked .

For so it is here said ; To thē that looke for him , he shall appeare the second time without sinne vnto saluation . Implying thereby , that to such as looke not for him , he shall then come to their iust condemnation .

Now for the former , these questions may be moued .

1 Whether there shall be any iudgement ?

2 Who shall be iudge ?

3 By what proces , examination , and execution it shal be effected ?

4 What shal be the precedent signes of such iudgement ?

Of these in order as the time will permit , hoping you will heare with vnwearied diligence what the Lord will bring to passe in so great a wonder .

For that which is moued in the first place whether there shall be any iudgment or no , That there shall be a Iudgment . the question is necessarie , because the scripture hath foretold that there should come mockers in the last daies , which wil walke after their lusts , and say , 2. Peter . 3.3.4 . Where is the promises of his comming ? for since the fathers died , all things continue alike from the beginning of the creation . Trees growe , riuers flowe , sunne shineth , moone and starres send out their light as of old , seedtime and haruest fall out in their due seasons , and winter & s●mmer saile vs not of their appointed times : men are mortall , & yet liue to beget sonnes , & daughters , for this immortall world , that neither wil die , nor yet decay : for if there be no new thing vnder the sun , why should we feare the ruine or fall of so faire a fabricke with the steddie earth , his center to beare vp all , and the cope of heauen a couer to shroud all ? Come ( say they ) let vs lay our pleasures as on an heape , let vs lap our delights together , let vs solace our selues in the sweetnes of our sin , there is no feare of vengeance , there is no fire of violence .

Of such mockers the world is full , who being filled with diuers lusts , haue made a league with death , and a couenant with hell , in putting farre off the euill day , Rom. 2.4.5 . not knowing that the patience , long suffering , and bountifulnes of God , leadeth to repentance .

But thou ( ô mocker ) after thine hardnes , and heart that cannot repent , heapest vnto thy selfe wrath against the day of wrath , and of the iust iudgment of God , who will reward euery man according to his works .

But leaue we these fleshly Epicures to the iudgement of that great day , & come we to the present matter in hand , and proofe that it shall be .

Enoch , the seuenth from Adam , Iude . 14.15 . prophecied of it , saying , Behold the Lord commeth with thousands of his Saints to giue iudgment against all men , and to rebuke all the vngodly of all their wicked deeds . Where first we see how the babe was buried in it birth : I meane the world was no sooner made by God , and mard by man , but euen in the beginning there went from Enoch a pregnant prophecie of it ending , yea and before the first floud was out , the last fire was in , to assure the wicked of both worlds , that their sinnes should neuer go vnpunished . Againe , Enochs prophecie , was of such certaintie , that he prophecied it done , ere it was begun : And in vew ere it was fully seene , and not by a probable coniecture , but by a liuely and true demonstration , thus , Ecce : Behold the Lord commeth , &c. Lastly , as you may there see , he iudgeth all persons without exception of any , all sinnes without missing of one , sinnes of the soule , sinnes of the body , sinnes of omission , sinnes of commission , and all this in the assembly of all his Saints , for his greater glorie , their good , and for the wofull confusion of the wicked .

Againe , Daniel saith ; Dan . 7.9.10 . I beheld till the thrones were set , and the fierie streames issued out , till the iudgment was prepared , and the bookes were opened , with thousand thousands ministring vnto him , and ten thousand thousands standing before him . Where I pray you obserue with me what Daniel sawe in vision by the bancks of Hulay , many misteries concerning the Messias & Sauiour of all the world , his great humiliation in his birth , death , and buriall , with his exaltation to glorie in his resurrection , ascention , mediation , second comming , and finall iudgement .

Of which iudgement , this Scripture was sufficient warning and warrantie to all the world , that the proces were out to sommon it , & that with expedition : for 1. the thrones were prepared to shew his readines 2. the ancient of daies was set , to shew his resolution . 3. Garments white as snowe , to shew his integritie . 4. And eyes like flaming fire , to declare his seueritie : 5. wheeles burning , to tell vs he is a comming : 6. And streames of fire issuing , to teach vs , that he wil haue no stop . What should I say more ? 7 Meriads of men and Angels attending , to declare his maiestie . 8. And with bookes opened , to make good his promises laid downe in his word , which word as the Apostle saith , Io● . 12.48 . shall iudge all in the last day .

treadings of all the godly keeping their pathes , hath so tract the way , and beaten the doctrine , as it were a death to our bodies , danger to our soules , nay damnation to both , either to put off the iudgment of that great day , or to make doubt thereof .

If scriptures cannot perswade you that there shall be a iudgement , the end of mans creation may : who vndoubtedly was created of God , to this end that he should be the Image , the euerlasting temple , where he would be worshipped , dwelll , communicate himselfe , and would impart his blessings , now although the end for which man was created , ( which is perfect blessednes ) is hindered diuers waies : yet necessarily at some time it wil come , and God will obtaine it , for it is not likely , or probable , that man was made for these miseries : but it is also certaine , that the most excellent of all creatures was ordaired to a better end , and therefore must there needs be at length a change from toyle to rest , from miserie to mercie , and from this wretched life , to a better being .

In hope whereof , the Saints of God haue bene raised vp from time to time , in the daies of their affliction , they haue swallowed voall difficulties , and vndergone all dangers , to attaine the end of their blessednes , whereunto they were ordained . So Iob did when he said , I know that my redeemer liueth , and that 〈◇〉 shall see him with these eyes . So Dauid did , when he said , I should verily haue fainted , but that I trust to see the goodnes of God in the land of the liuing . So Paul did , when he said , I suppose that the afflictions of this life , are not worthy of the glorie that shall be reuealed .

And by this argument of the Lords abiding in vs , and we in him , in a better life , is confirmed the happines of our bodies : as habitations for the Lord to dwell in , according to that . 1. Cor . 6.19 . Knowe yee not that your body is the temple of the holy Ghost which is in you ? &c. O happie Christians , if you knew your owne happines , either what you are , or what you haue , you are the temples of God : such you are , and ye haue the holy Ghost within you , so ye haue . Much adoe there is in this world , where the habitation of God is , where he dwelleth , and where he will be worshipped . One runneth to Ierusalem : another to Samaria : one to Rome , and another to the holie Sepulcher : some to the shrine of this Saint , and some to that : as to the Ladie at Loretta , or to Iames at Compostella : some say hee is the God of the Mountaine , some of the Valley : some say hee is in the Pax , some in the Oste , some in the holy graine , & medal : but we say no , and for a check to all , that the habitation of God is with men , and that Christ doth dwell in our harts by faith ; Open , ô open therefore , your euerlasting doores , that this King of glorie may come in .

Newe Ierusalem came downe from God out of heauen , prepared as a Bride , trimmed for her Husband , with twelue gates of pearles , and the streete of pure golde , yet I sawe no Temple , ( saith Iohn ) therein : to teach vs , that when fire hath fined vs , fitte for our GOD , wee shall dwell in him , and hee in vs. For as now ( in the Kingdome of grace ) hee that sanctifieth , and they that are sanctified , are both one : So then , in the Kingdome of glorie , hee that glorifieth , and they that are glorified , shall bee both one .

Lastlie , if neither Scripture , not the ende of mans Creation to blessednes , can perswade you , yet let the Iustice of God moue you , that there shall bee a iudgement ; For shall not the God of all the world doe according to right , and that is , that it may goe well with the good , and euill with the wicked and refractory : but this commeth not to passe in this life , nay rather , it goeth well with the wicked in this world , and euill with the good and godly : and therfore there must needs remaine another life wherein the iudge of all the world shall do according to right : for so saith the blessed Apostle , 2. Thes . 1.6.7 . It is a righteous thing with God , to recompence tribulation to them that trouble you , and to you which are troubled , rest with vs when the Lord Iesus shall shewe himselfe from heauen with his mightie Angels . Whereunto also accordeth that of Abraham , to the damned glutton , Luk . 16.25 . Remember that thou in thy life time receiuedst thy pleasure , and Lazarus paine , now therefore is he comforted , and thou art tormented .

In this life , to shewe that he is mercifull , the Lord beareth with all , and ballanceth none : but in another , to shew that he is iust , he will ballance all , & beare with none , for euery one shall receiue according to that he hath done in this life , be it good or euil : here the sunne shineth vpon the iust & vniust , here the raigne falleth vpon the field of the foole , aswell as vpon the closures of the wise : here beautie , strength , honour , and skill , are indifferently bestowed , as vpon the elect of God , so vpon the reprobate from God : here be the outward things of this life , it is not possible to know who is in the fauour of God , and who is not . But when the iudgement is out , and these daies are done , then downe goe the wicked , and the godly shall be exalted : horror , hell and death , shall be the doome of the damned : heauen , ioy , and life , shall be the lot of the righteous : and therefore when you see here on earth , things so vneuenly dealt : Know the day will come , when the dole shall be more equallie diuided ; in the meane time , of the prosperity of the wicked , and of their suddaine destruction , read Iob . 21.7 . &c. Psalme 37.1 . and Psal . 10.1.73.3 . Ieremie 12.1.2.3 . Esdras 3.33 .

1 Hauing thus proued vnto you from holy scripture , 2. From the ende of mans Creation , 3. And from the Iustice of God Almightie , that Iudgement shall come , as it is in my Text ; It now remaines , we come to the second part and question moued ; to wit , Who shall bee our Iudge at that dreadfull day ?

2 Wherevnto I answere , that all Iudgement shall be divolued into the handes of Christ , Who shal be our Iudge ? and he shall be our Iudge then , who is our aduocate now , Inde venturus is an Article of your Creede , yee may belieue it , thence shall hee come to iudge both the quicke and the dead : Act. 17.31 . The Lord hath appointed a day ( saith the Apostle ) in the which hee will iudge the world in Righteousnes , by that man whom hee hath appointed : whereof hee hath giuen an assurance to all men , in that hee hath raised him from the dead .

And againe , Iohn . 3.35 . the Father loueth the Sonne ( saith Christ ) and hath giuen all things into his handes . And againe , all things are giuen vnto mee of my Father . Matt . 11.27 . And again , he hath committed all iudgement vnto the Sonne . And againe , Ioh . 5.22 . Matt . 24.30 . then shal appeare the signe of the Son of man in heauen , and all the Tribes of the earth shall mourne , and shall see the Sonne of man comming in the clouds of heauen .

I alsty , 2. Cor . 5.10 . we shall all appeare before the iudgement feat of Christ , that euery man may receiue the things , which are done in this body , according to that he hath done , whether it be good or euil : whence I gather , that all power in heauen , in earth , and hell , is giuen to the man Christ , in heauen to open it , in earth , to redeeme it ; in hell , to shut it ; the Cherubins giue place and passage to our Christ , & to the children whom God hath giuen him , the wide mouth & gulfe of hel is shut from his Saints , by him , and there he keepeth in both diuels and damned : in the might of his power , he hath power ouer the diseased to cure them , ouer sinners to saue them , ouer death and doome , to dissolue them , he checketh sinne with righteousnes , & cancelleth the rigor of the lawe with the mildnes of the Gospell , all power is giuen vnto him to conuert men to the faith , to confirme Angels in the faith , & to confine all consciences to such obedience as appertaineth .

As , & if he should say , all rule , all right , all reward , all vengeance is mine : all power ouer men , I can conuert thē : all power ouer diuels , I can controule them : all power ouer the dead , I can raise them : all power ouer the damned , I can iudge them , & giue to euery man as his worke shall be .

Or , as and if he should yet say more powerfully , It is giuen vnto me , Ad creandum , adrecreandum , ad glorificandum , In the creation I was with the father , I was his mouth , I said , and it was done . In the redemption , I was my selfe alone , I bled and ye were deliuered : and for the Diademe of your glorie , it is put into my hand , and I haue power to set it where I wil : It is giuen vnto me , a man as you are in all things ( sinne onely excepted ) and at whom all men are offended , and I vniustlie censured : but I shall come againe , with my Fan in my hand , & winnow all with vpright iudgement . O wonderfull misterie of the match of Gods Maiestie with our miserie . Carnem nostram regnare in coelo super omnia : that our flesh should iudge all on earth , and raigne aboue all in heauen .

And here you Popes wane your plenarie power of indulgence , you are intruders vpon the Lords possession , his power is plena , iusta , firma , full without limitation : for so it is said , all power is giuen , &c. It is iust without intrusion , it is giuen , not stollen : it is firme & stable , without change : it is giuen of the father , according to that all power is giuen vnto me of the father , Ruat Orbis , & Orcus , Illa erit secura . But I say againe , you are inintruders vpon the Lords possession , such power was neuer giuen you , & therefore your kingdome cannot stand , but fall to hell from whence it came : To tread vpon the necks of Kings and Emperours it is your pride , to pine poore soules in a fained fire , it is your folly : & either to push soules into hell , or to fetch any thence ( as you say you did the soule of Traian ) it is your grosse impietie . Fiat iustitia , & pereat mundus .

Let the right of Christ take place , and the world of your wickednes vanish .

Pardon me , to expostulate the right of my Christ with the wrong you haue done him , & tell what s the reason you are so rebellious against the Lord , his crowne and dignitie , is it for that his pouertie , matcheth not with your pride ? or is it , for that his wretched crowne of thornes , wayeth not with the Diademe of your gold set with Saphires ? is it for that our poore king tryumphed vpon an asse , and you ride vpon your steeds of state , trapped with Diamonds & champing vpon gold ? Is it for that Christ conquered in his passion , and you glorie in your perdition , euery battaile of the warriour is with noise , and tumbling of garments in blood , such is your fight , euer in fire , & still in blood . But vnto vs a child is borne , and a sonne is giuen , and the gouernment is vpon his shoulders : surely surely , I should neuer thinke my self to be of the true Church , but for her lenitie , nor you to be the malignant Church , but for your crueltie .

I cannot but wonder to see so high treason committed against the Lord , euen in this particular point of iudgement , by men of this world , of whom I may say , their madnes is knowne vnto all men , the Lord is at hand .

Madnes ( I say ) in this , and treasonable furie , that they dare robbe the Lord of his honour , and take to themselues plenarie power of Indulgence , power to purge sinne , power to forgiue sinne , and power to iudge sinne , who durst euer haue presumed to do this : but that man of sinne ? who hath aduanced himselfe aboue all that is called God , and doth sit as God in the Temple of God , shewing himselfe that he is God .

You are religiously wise to know whom I meane , I meane that man of Rome is that great Rebel against God , & his Christ , in that he hath taken vpon him in his papall pride , not onely primacie and power ouer men : but iurisdiction ouer all creatures , in heauen , earth , and hell , to binde or loose , saue or spill , in so much , that if he should thrust thousands of soules into hell , ( as one of their Canonists hath it ) yet no man may say , Curita facis .

And now for conclusion of this point , and to leaue these turbulent Iurdens , and to wash againe in Shilo , if any soule be desirous to search into the causes , why the man Christ shall be iudge ouer all at that day , let him know , that the Church is to be glorified by the same mediator , by whom , and for whom it was iustified , according to that , Acts. 17.31 . God wil iudge the world in righteousnes , by the man whom he hath appointed .

I say appointed a sacrifice , a mediator , a iudge , a sacrifice on his crosse , a mediator at his right hand in heauen , a Iudge on earth at that dreadfull day , all appointed by God , all vndertaken by Christ , that he might haue the primacie , prime , and pride ( if I may so say ) of our full regeneration in grace , and restauration to glorie .

Againe , the man Christ must iudge all , that we may haue comfort : knowing him to be our iudge , who is of vs , bone of our bone : and flesh of our flesh : he is our brother , our husband , our head : and therfore saith Bernard , the father of mercies , and God of all consolations , will iudge men by men , that in so great a confusion of euils , semblance of natures might yeeld comfort : to the which is annexed , a promise to the faithfull beleeuer , when he saith ; He that beleeueth in the Sonne of God , hath euerlasting life , and shall not come into condemnation : but for the vnbeleeuer , and such as contumeliouslie haue set themselues against the Lord , they shall looke vpon the man Christ whom they haue pierced .

But to proceed with the rest , I doubt not but out of that which alreadie hath bin deliuered , you are fully resolued that there shall be a iudgment , as also that Christ shall be our iudge , in that great day . It now remaines , we make knowne vnto you , how he will iudge the world , and by what proces .

Where first obserue , Generall Summons . that he wil go by general summons of all , all shall appeare before the tribunall seate of Christ , all that haue bene , all that are , and all that shall be to the worlds ending , young and old , rich , and poore , Iew , and gentile , bond and free , noble and ignoble , from the king in his throne , to the channell sweeper in the streete , al shal appeare , giue their attendance , and receiue their doome : Hell shal be shaken , and the graues shall open , the Sea shal giue vp her dead , Beasts , Fish , and Fowle , shall render the corps they haue deuoured ; Yea , heauen it selfe shall be emptied , of Saints and Soules , in that great day .

I say in that great day , when the Lord shall send his Angells with a great sounde of a Trumpet , Matt . 24.31 . and they shall gather together his Elect , from the fower windes , and from one end of the heauens to another .

I say , Reuelat . 1.7 . in that great day , when hee shall come in the clouds , and euery eye shall see him , yea euen they which pierced him throgh , and all kindreds of the earth shall waile before him : Euen so Amen , saith the blessed Apostle , to make it as sure and certaine to bee , as if it were alreadie done . Whervnto accordeth Christ , when to take away the wonder thereof , he said thus ; Maruell not at this , for the houre shall come , in the which , all that are in the graues shall heare his voice . Now if such shal be the shoute of his summons , so loude , so shrill , and so piercing , that the liuing shal be appalled to heare it , and the ghastly graue to beare it , how should wee but groane , and grieue to tell it ?

When hee came in Mercie to redeeme the world , it would not be sommoned , so softe and silent was his voyce , like a shower of raine vpon a fleece of woll , but at his comming in iudgement , his sommons wil be more sounding , for the Lord himselfe shall descend from heauen , with a shoute , and with the voice of th'ark-Angell , and wth the Trumpet of God . As , and if he should say , to heighthen the call , If the shout of the Lord reach thee not , the Arkangels voyce shall : and if neither , the shout of the one , nor the voyce of the other , will rouse thee , the trumpet of God shall raise thee vp .

Seuen rammes hornes weakly sounded from the weake mouth of man , ruinated the high walles of Ierico : How much more then shall the loud trumpet of God , blowne from his fierie mouth , shake and sommon , both the liuing and the dead ? Surely , surely , as his last comming shal be sudden , like lightning flashing out of the East , and seene in the west , and all in the twinckling of an eye , so shall the sommons be , heauen , earth , and hell , shall heare it all at once : and no sooner shall they see their iudge , but they shal be sommoned to iudgement : of which dreadfull day , & peremptorie sommons , so often as I think ( saith a good Father ) Toto corpore contremisco ; I tremble in my thoughts , and shake in all my ioints ; for whether I eate , on whether I drinke , whether I sleepe , or whether I wake , or whatsoeuer thing I do , me thinks I still heare that terrible trumpet sounding in mine eares , Arise ye dead , and come to iudgement .

Thus hauing sommoned all to make their appearance , next , The examination . he will proceed to examine their cause , euery man according to that he hath done in this life , be it good or euill : for it stands with all right , lawe , & equitie , that no man should be condemned before he come to his triall , the Lord would not proceede with Adam till hee had examined his cause , and saide , Adam where art thou ? what hast thou done ? who told thee that thou wast naked ? hast thou eaten of the forbidden Tree ? Nor would hee proceede against Caine , till hee had called him to an account , and saide , where is thy brother Abel ?

Ioshua examined Achan of the Babilonish garment , and wedge of gold , ere he proceeded to further iudgement . And the Marriners that knewe not God , after the Prophet was taken by Lot , and adiudged to be cast into the Sea , yet did not proceede to execution , till they had examined him vpon these interrogatories , Tell vs what euill hast thou done ? what is thine Occupation ? and whence commest thou ? which is thy Countrey ? and of what people art thou ?

Israel may not enter Canaan , till they haue sent forth Exploratores terrae , Searchers of the land , and before the destruction of the Cittie , the Lord will search Ierusalem with Lights , Zeph . 1.12 . and will visite the men that are frozen in their dregges .

And now ( good Lord ) Quid in Babilone tutum , si in Ierusalem manet scrutinium ? How shall Babylon bee safe , if Ierusalem must be fyned ; and if a virgin daughter Syon may not passe without a search ? how can Babylon escape without triall ? This world is chaffe , it must be winnowed , in the great day of the Lords scrutinie , betwixt the sommons and the sentence , there must be an examination , that when the Lord hath made inquisition for blood , Psalme 9.12 . hee may remember it , and not forget the complainte of the poore .

Now if any man doubt wherof he shall be examined in that great day , let him be sure that the Lord will examine all our thoughs , all our words , all our deeds , and all the time we haue spent in this world , all our thoughts according to that Inquisition shall be made , for the thoughtes of the vngodlie , Wisedome . 1.9 . and the sound of his words shall come vnto God for the correction of his iniquities . Whereunto Oregen agreeth . Our very thoughts shall either acquit or comdemne our soules , in that fearefull day , and not the thoughts that then shall be , but the thoughts that are euen now in vs , whose impressions left in our hearts , are as letters in paper , which when all secrets shall be disclosed , will be easily read .

Next vnto our thoughts , the Lord will examine our wordes , yea all our words , Non tam malitiosa , quam otiosa , aswel such as are spoken in our myrth , as in our malice , for of euery idle word saith Christ , that men shal speake , they shall giue an account thereof at the day of iudgement . Matt . 12.36 . And surely all are idle that are not profitable , and tend either to the glorie of God , or good of his Church ; Hierom : super Leuit. 12. Quicquid non adificat audientes in periculum vertitur eloquentium , whatsoeuer doth not edifie the hearer , turnes to the danger of the speaker .

Now may you say , your tongues are your owne , for they are bought with a price , and if you will be quit of your reckoning at the great account , let your words be few and faithfull , euer poudered with grace , that you may finde grace in time of need .

When the Lord hath done with our thoughts and words , then will he come to our deeds for God will bring euery worke into iudgement . Eccles . 12.44 . With euery secret thing , whether it be good or euill . All our workes shall then be discouered , examined , & tryed , by the touch of fire , which if they can abide , then shall they be fined for heauen : if not , they must be fuell for hell .

Lastly , all our time must come to tryall , and the Lord will examine how we haue bestowed euery yeare , euery moneth , euery day and minute thereof , and when time shal be no more , they that haue redeemed it in the kingdome of grace , shall haue eternitie in glorie . But all such as haue neglected time , and haue not knowne the day of their visitation , nor the things that belong to their peace , they shall haue shame , and confusion for euermore : Bernardus . Omne tempus nobis impensum : requiritur a nobis qualiter sit expensum , All the time the Lord hath bestowed vpon vs , he will require how it hath bene bestowed for him . Witnesses produced . To this fierie triall and due examination , sufficient testies , and witnesses shall be produced , to conuict the sinner , though himselfe would be silent and answere nothing , in that dreadfull day all creatures shall accuse them of guilt , The creatures . and presse the punishment . Now they that grone with vs after a deliuerance , shall grieue for vs , and witnes to our woe , that we haue bene wanting , In illo die ( saith Chrysostome ) nihilest quod respondeamus vbi coelum , & terra , Sol , & luna , dies , & noctes , & totus mundus stabunt aduersus nos , in testimonium peccatorum nostrorum . In that day we shall haue nothing to answere , when heauen , and earth , sunne , & moone , daies and nights , & all the world shall stand against vs as witnesses of our sinnes .

If the creatures should say nothing , Our sinnes . yet our proper sinnes shall then accuse vs , for all our offences that now lurke in vs , shall then creepe forth and speake to our shame & endles confusion . The Idoll we haue adored shall accuse vs of Idolatrie , the mothes of our gaie garments , shall then accuse vs of intollerable pride , the rust of our gold and siluer , here cankering , our soules shall then accuse vs of auarice , and the stone in the walles shall cry to the timber , oppression : all these shall say we were thy creatures which thou diddest abuse , & now thou shalt be iudged for vs.

The diuell that old aduersarie , The diuell . and accuser of our brethren , shall come in the rancke and say , Equissime iudex iudica hinc esse meum ob culpam qui tuus esse nolint per gratiam , tuus est per naturam , meus per miseram , tuus ob passionem , meus ob suationem , O righteous iudge , doome him to be mine for sinne , who would not be thine by grace : thine in mercy , mine in miserie : thine by thy passion , mine by perswasion : yea Sathan shall then shift to euery circumstance and corner of our sinnes , saying ; In such a time , at such a place , with such a person , and in such sort hast thou sinned : It was done in the sight of thy God and his sonne , therefore crie sonne , cry sinne , cry conscience with me , shall not the iudge of all the world doe according to right ?

Lastly , Our conscience . and not the least of witnesses , the conscience shall step forth in that dreadfull day , a iudge of our soules , either accusing or excusing all our actions : with a Iurie of witnesses , euerreadie to giue vp the verdit ; I say a iudge of it selfe , for who knowes the things that are in a man , but the spirit which is in man ? where doubtles the spirit is taken for the iudge of the conscience : nor only that , but God himselfe shall be it iudge . In which sense the Apostle saith , God is greater then our hearts . And Iob , my witnes is in heauen : Nay more , the conscience will haue Sathan a iudge , suggesting the sinne , and vrging the iudgement , stirring vp suries to affright the soule , as he did in Nero , who after he had murthered his mother Agrippina , neuer tooke pleasant sleepe , but was frighted with feare and furie , till he was dead .

Lastly , men withall , Men with whome we haue conuersed . will be witnesses to accuse our conscience , Nam in hac re valde sumus improuidi : quod peccamus raro soli . Herein are we improuident , that seldome we doe sinne alone . But for the most part , haue associats and fellowes in transgression , to witnes our woe : the thiefe , the Adulterer , the wanton , the Brawler , the Idolater : the drinker , and drunkard , seldome sinne alone , but haue men their associates to witnes their wickednes : Ananias had his wife priuie to his fact : Adam , had Eue , the Serpent & God , priuie to his transgression : Iudas had the Iewes acquainted with his sinne : the Soldiours whose guide he was to take Christ , the Disciples who sawe his treason , Christ whom he did betray , Sathan his perswader , and God the gouernour of all things to their appointed ends . Whereupon I may say , that the conscience is a thousand witnesses , it is both iudge and iurie , accuser and executioner , neuer forgetting , or forgiuing the delinquent .

It is the readiest remembrancer , and the sharpest censor that can be in the soule of man ; according to that , scit conscientia omnia , & adcensuram reuocat , dicta , facta , cogitata , it knoweth all words , deeds , and thoughts , & yeeldeth no grace , but pronounceth sentence against it selfe rigorously , and speedily .

One calleth it Sillogisimus practicus , a restlesse reasoning euer in contemplation : another calls it vicegerent , from whose face and furie thou canst neuer , flee , shun thou maiest the sight of man , but neuer cansts thou auoyd the eye of God , nor the sighes of thy heauie hart , it is a worme euer growing , it is a fire euer burning , the further thou fliest , the faster it hasteth after , & when thou deemest thy selfe safest , then art thou in greatest danger : sleeping it frighteth , waking it feareth , Alastor est , it is a furie , tied to a life euer dying , and to a death euer liuing : To conclude , it is horrible as hell , endles , easeles , and remediles for paine and passion .

Now if such be the conscience that shall accuse vs : then blessed is the good conscience that shall quit vs , in that great day , of which the Apostle speaketh , when he saith ; 2. Cor . 1.12 . Our reioycing is the testimonie of our conscience , that in simplicitie and godly purenes , and not in fleshly wisedome , but by the grace of God , we haue had our conuersation in this world , and most of all to you wards .

This conscience is the title of honour , the Temple of Salomon , the Orchard of delight , the golden bed , it is earths solace , & heauens ioy . Nihil iucundius , nihil tutius , nihil diutius bona conscientia , fremat or bis & orcus , illa erit secura : there is nothing more sweet , nothing more safe : nothing more durable then a good conscience .

Rage world , roare hell , it is alwaies at quiet . Children in their play , saith the poet can tell one to another , thou shalt be great if thou be good . Hic murus Aeneus esto : Nil conscire sibi , nulla pallescere culpa . Let this be thy brazen wall , to knowe no guilt by thy selfe , nor feare no fault to appall thee .

For the conscience , as another saith more diuinely , Tenella res est , adeo , vt in magnis , it a in paruis sape grauiter hareat , It is a tender thing , sticking as much at little sinnes , as at great ones , which made the king to charge Shemey with the transgression of all he had committed against Dauid his Father , when he saith : 1. Kings 2.44 . Thou knowest all the wickednes whereunto thine hart is priuie : thy great sinnes and thy little sinnes , all are alike , and now thou shalt bee iudged for both .

And now for further proces in the Lords busines , His sentence wil be right , not wicked . at that fearfull day , hauing thus sommoned all flesh , and brought euery thought to tryall ; it remaines we see how hee will come , Ad sententiandum , & ad seperandum : to sentence our cause , and seuer our persons .

For his sentence , it will bee right , with might . for what might , or power in this world can wrest it ? No feare , no loue , no reward , no hatred , which oftentimes doe peruert Iustice on earth , can staine it in heauen ; For if Iustice be a Virgin , and may not be deflowred with men , how much more shall the Iudge of all the world proceed without corruption ?

Neuer will he be backed with Nor feare . feare , in that hee is more mightie then all : acccording to that of Eliphaz the Temanite , Iob . 32. Is it for feare of thee that hee will accuse thee , or goe with thee to iudgement ? Nay , the Lord is so farre from feare of anie , that the more mightie they are who offend , the more seuere hee is to plague , Wisedome . 6.8 . Potentes , potenter , tormenta patientur ; the mightie abide the sorer triall , and hee that is Lord ouer all , will spare no person : neither shall he feare anie greatnes , for hee hath made the small and great , and careth for all alike ; wherevnto accordeth that of Esay , Topheth is prepared of old , Esay . 30.33 . it is euen prepared for the King , he hath made it deepe and large , the burning thereof , is fire and much wood , and the breath of the Lord , like a riuer of brimstone doth kindle it .

3 Nor will he be moued with the loue or affection of any , Nor loue . who is most iust : no people , no kindred , no parentage , no kindnes , no curtesie , may pleade priuiledge with the Lord , not Iudah his harts delight , not Israel the plant of his pleasure ; If Ieconiah were as the signet of my right hand , Iere . 5.1 . yet would I cast him off , & though Moses & Samuel stood before me ( saith the Lord ) yet mine affection could not be towards this wicked people : Ezec . 14.14 . yea if these three men , Noah , Daniel , and Iob , were amongst thē , they should deliuer but their owne soules by their righteousnes , saith the Lord : the iust iudge of all the world , will doe according to right , and euery one shal be iudged according to that he hath done with vpright iudgement . Nor luker .

4 Againe , this iudge shall be corrupted with no gifts , or rewa ds of any : for that he is ditissimus , the richest of all , Prou. 6.35 what needeth he the wealth of anie ? The wise king saith , he cannot beare the sight of any ransome , neither will he consent , thogh thou augment thy gifts : Veniet , illa dies veniet , in qua valebunt plus pura corda , quam astuta verba , & conscientia bona , quam marsupia plena , that day will come , in which , pure hearts will more preuaile , thē guilt tongues , & a good conscience , thē a full purse .

7 Lastly , he will be tainted with no malice , or hatred to anie , with no malice or hatred . quia optimus , in eo enim qui optimus est , odium cadere non potest , quod pessi mum est . Hatred , which is the worst of all , Wisedome . 10. can neuer be found in him , who is best of all : thou louest all things that are , and hatest nothing that thou hast made : hee that loueth all in his Mercie , would punish none , but for his Iudgement : and therefore one saith well , Egreditur Deus de loco suo dum punit : the Lord is not at home , whilest hee punisheth , which made him to grieue , when he thought vpon the affliction of Ephraim and Israel ; How shall I giue thee vp Ephraim ? How shall I deliuer thee Israel ? Hose . 11.8 . How shall I make thee as Adniah ? How shall I set thee as Zeboim ? mine heart is turned within me , my repentings are rolled together , and therefore it is worthy due obseruation , to see that euen then , when the firie floud of his iudgement is out , how hee cooleth it with the sweet springs of his mercies , not iudging the wicked in that great day , for sinnes of commission , but for sinnes of omission , not for that they haue done , but for that which they haue not done : nor for the breach of the first table against God , but for the breach of the second table against men : according to that , I was an hungred , and you gaue me no meate : I thursted , and you gaue me no drinke , &c.

I adde , His sentence shall be irreuocable . as his sentence shall be right , so shall it be irreuocable , like the lawes of the Medes and Persians , neuer reuersed vpon any intreatie , Ite & venite , shall determine all , the one by the lawe , the other by the Gospell : and Non noui vos shall shut the doore , the blessed within , and the damned without : I say the sweet sentence of saluation , Come yee , shall fall vpon the blessed , according to the Gospell , the lawe yeelding thereunto , through the righteousnes of faith , but vpon the damned shall fall , Go yee : the Gospell yeelding thereunto , for their vnbelief . Besides , I know you not , will be a wofull sentence , and the heauiest doome , that euer was determined . For what am I the better that I haue bene knowne in this world , by the honour of my place , or greatnes of my person , if kings haue knowne me , nobilitie and gentrie haue fauoured me , if wife , children , and familie , haue fawned vpon me , what am I the better ? If I haue bene knowne by the beautie of my face and comely stature , by the strength of my arme , or excellencie of my wit , what am I the better for all these ? If Christ will not knowe me , at that dreadfull day ? If in sicknes when all pleasures shall be forsaken , if in death , when all delights shall be forgotten , if in doome , when all this world shall leaue me , and I haue none to leane vnto but my Christ , and if then he will not knowe me , what shall become of me ? If they that would cannot , and if he that can will not , what shall I say , but O yee hilles couer me .

Surely , surely , His wrath implacable . as his sentence wil be irreuocable , his wrath will be implacable , and he will yeeld to no intreatie : for be it the damned shall say , Lord we are not worthy to possesse thy kingdome , yet let it please thee we may sit at thy seate : but he shall answere , Discedite a me , not so , but depart from me : betwixt you and me there shall be a great gulfe , gastly to the sight , and impassible for any presence .

Againe , be it they shall say , although thou expell vs from thee , yet dismisse vs with a blessing : but he shall answere no : Ite maledicti , goe yee with a curse . Be it they say vnto him , Lord , if we must away , and with a malediction , yet send vs into some place of rest and refreshing : but he shall answere againe no ; Ite in ignem , goe yee into the fire for fuell of hell . Be it yet they plead further , and say , Lord if we must to the fire , let it haue an end , and be but for a season , but he shall answere no : yee must in Ignem aeternum , into euerlasting fire , where is weeping and wayling , and gnashing of teeth .

Lastly . Be it they yet say , Good God if it must needs be so , let vs be ruled with some pittifull prince , and haue some societie that good is : but he shal answere ; euen with the diuell , and his angels , Pro domino habebitis diabolum maiorem , pro socijs vero doemones minores , Ye shall haue the prince of diuels for your king , and lesser diuels for your companions : Reuel . 9.6 . ye shall seeke death & shall not finde it , and shall desire to die , & death shall flie from you .

Thus hauing sentenced all , Vpon his sentence , the Lord will separate . there must be a separation , Goates to hell , sheepe to heauen , the good to God , euer to be blessed , the euill to Sathan , euer to be accursed : for without shall be dogges , lyers , and libertines , but within shall be the faire flocke , and holy assembly : vpon the sentence , the sinners shall shrinke downward , and in feare of their fall , cry to the mountaines couer vs , but the godly shall haue boldnes , and be aduanced to sit with their Christ , as assistance , knowe yee not saith the Apostle , that the Saints shall iudge the world .

Death is a diuider , and so is doome , two shall be in the field , the one shall be taken , and the other shall be refused : two shall be on the house top , the one shall be taken , the other shall be refused , &c.

What sinne hath gathered , righteousnes shall scatter , and the Lord like the gathering Host , Dan , shall come last of all and gather the good corne into his barne , but burne the chaffe with vnquencheable fire , for the wicked shall not stand in the iudgement , nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous .

And that the seuering may be as sure to stand , as the sentence without change , the iudge himselfe , and none but he , will pronounce the one , and defie the other : Angels may gather as formerly we haue said , but {αβγδ} Officium iudices est & ad solum christum pertinet , Angels I say by the Lords appointment , may gather the elect , from the foure corners of the world , in that generall sommons , but to sentence all , is in the iust mouth of the Lord , & to separate all , is in his powerfull hand : and now , that in this world he suffereth a mixture of both , it is his great mercy , therby to moue vs to vnfained repentance , that hauing so long endured corne and cockle to growe together , euen till the day of his great haruest , they might then groane vnder a iust iudgement , who haue neglected so vedeserued mercies . And so to the rest .

Next in place , are to be considered the signes precedent , Signes of his care approach . or concurring with that great day , as harbingers of his wrath , and neare approach of his comming . It would be tedious to heare , hauing your eares sanctified , with a better truth , as also troubles me for me to speake , being ( as I trust ) touched with an hotter coale of the Altar , to tell of the idle dreames , and munkish fopperies which superstition hath deuised thereof , in the darke & derne cels of their grosse ignorance .

Exceeding the signes of the Zodiack , ouer and aboue all that are mencioned in the booke of God , or haue fallen from the mouth of Christ .

Bonauenture all at a venter , hath marshalled thē to fifteene . Iumping with Methodius , Albimazer , Haly , and others of that rancke ; and yet haue left out some which Bellarmine and the moderne papists of these our daies haue fondly vrged , as of the comming of Antichrist , three yeares and an halfe before the iudgement day . In which times say they , hee should fight with the three Kings of Libia , Aegipt , and Aethiopia , persecute Christians , and put to death , Enoch and Elias .

I might tell you further , how they tell vs tales what shal fall out for fifteene dayes , next & immediately before the iudgment day : As the 1 day , Bonauent . Dieta . 9. Cap. 48. De general : iudicio . that the sea shall swell : 15 cubits aboue the highest hilles , and stand in his owne center like a wall of brasse . And in the 2. day , shall fall againe to so great an Ebbe , as scarce it shall be seene : in the 3. day , fishes and maritine beasts shall appeare , and so bellow , as their lowing shal reach the heauens : the 4 day , heauen and earth shall burne with fire : in the 5 day , hearbes and trees shall droppe blood : the 6 day , all buildings shall be ruinated : the 7 day , Rocks shal ruine and breake into eight peeces , & beate one against another , yet so as none shall heare the sound but onely God . The 8 day , shal be so general an earthquake , as neither men nor liuing creature shall be able to stand but fall to the ground : in the 9 day , all the earth shall be euened , mountaines and hills shal turne to dust : in the 10 day , men shall creepe out of the dennes of the earth , wander like mad men , and neuer speake one to another : in the 11 day , all the bones of the dead shal rise , and stand vpon their sepulchers , and all graues shall be opened , that the dead may come forth : in the 12 day , Starres shall fall from heauen , all liuing creatures shall come into the fields lowing , and shall touch neither grasse nor water : in the 13 day , men that are aliue shall die , and shall then arise with those that were dead : in the 14 day , heauen and earth shall burne with the superficies both of earth and aire : in the 15 day , there shall be a new heauen , and a new earth , and the dead shall rise , secundum virtutes , merita , & demerita , recepturi . Thus am I bold to touch this their exceeding grossenes , vt euitetur , as an euill to be shunned and laughed at , so farre from the light of truth , as is the rest of their popish doctrine , the Lord in his good time open their eyes that they may see with Hager , the well of liuing water , and be refreshed with the springs of his word and truth , which yet they haue either rammed vp in their malice , or beaten backe , with the Iorden of their ignorance .

But the signes of Christ his comming shewed in the word , are sanctified with a better spirit , they implie no contradiction , they sauour of no heathenish or fabulous deuise , they checke no scripture , they grieue no good conscience , they prouoke vs rather to good deeds and watchfulnes , then to any such wilde workes of wonder .

Christ sitting vpon the mount of Oliues , Mat . 24.3 . his disciples came vnto him apart , saying , Tell vs when these things shall be ? and what signes shall bee of thy comming , and of the end of the world ? Dominus in monte , Verbum in alto , from the height of the hill , hee tells them the depth of his counsell , and yet mentioneth not one of all the former follies , as signes of his comming . Hee tells them of three euills that shall rule , and be rigorous in the latter dayes , & end of the world : 1. Of Heresie , which shall spoile the Faith of the Church : 2. Of Tyrannie , which shall persecute the members of the Church : 3. And of Domesticall Enemies , who shall corrupt the manners of the Church : of all which , wee may iustlie complaine , and crie with the Prophet , Lament . 1.10 . Manum suam misit hostis , ad omnia desiderabilia eius : The enemie hath stretched out his hand vppon all our pleasant things .

And surely , if there were no ther , these were sufficient signes to warne vs euen now , of his nere approch to iudgement .

Antichrist in the East , and Antichrist in the West , haue banded themselues against the Lord , and against his Saintes , practising by all possible and potent meanes , to destroy the Faith of our Lord Iesus Christ , and as Pilate dealt with the Galileans , Luk . 13.1 . to mingle the blood of his Saintes , with their owne sacrifices .

If any man say this Prophecie of Christ cannot be meant of the Pope , pardon me , whilst I proue in a word , by the words of Christ there laide downe , that it can be meant of none other , vnlesse you please to drawe in Mahomets imposture , to make full the sinnes of the Amorites : the wordes of Christ are these ; Take heede that no man deceiue you , for many shall come in my name , saying , I am Christ , and shall deceiue many : whereout I gather , that they are men , who shall deceiue : Beware of men , so saith Christ elsewhere , as the most familiar euill , to worke euill with those that are euill : 2 Christ saith they are many , so is that Hierarchy , which makes them so to bragge of their multitude , with their king of Locusts , and filthy froggs crawling out of the bottomles pit , and so great a number , as well-neere they haue blasted the greene grasse , and growth of the Church in all Christendome , I meane all the orders of Cardinals , Fryers , Munkes , Anchorists Iesuits , Seminaries , Nunnes , and Nouices , all subiect to the pope , that king of Locusts ; whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon , and in Greeke Apollion , 3. saith Christ , they shall come in my name : therby shewing their pretence of holines , but haue denied the power thereof : 4. they shall come saith Christ , vsurping that they were neuersent about , but fit as intruders vpon the Lords possession , without mission , or commission : 5. saith Christ , they shall say , I am Christ , vttering their great blasphe my against the Lord : Popes haue so said of themselues , Popes haue endured to heare it of others , none but Popes euer rose to that height of pride , as to say , Christ and I make one consistorie , and I can doe all that he can : Claue non errante : 6. and lastly , their successe shall be mightie , for as Christ saith , they shall deceiue manie , as an infallible note of popish impietie , 2. Timoth . 3.13 . to deceiue , and be deceiued .

Besides their heresy they haue euer bin branded with the greatest crueltie , and of all persecutions that euer were in the Church of God , that of popery hath bene most bloudy in her designs , yet is , and euer ( I feare ) will bee . Witnes their sanguinarie Inquisition of Spaine , intended against the Moores , but inflicted vpon the faithful Christians , whose blood , with his substance , is thereby sucked out . Witnes their late Massacre in France , when the streetes of Paris streamed with the blood of poore protestants . Witnes the dayes of Queene Marie , times of triall , when fire and fagots were welnere quenched & spent with the blood of the Innocent . Witnes the ransacking of the bones and graues of the dead , buryed first , and burned after . Witnesse their late pouder plot against our state , and of greater consequence for killing cruelty , then euer man could haue deuised : if hell had not holpen out , these persecutions are preambles of the latter day , harbingers of wrath to come , and sure signes of future iudgement , as if the Lord had plainelie said , Popish curelty shall forerun my fiery comming .

As for the last of euills , when I tolde you from Christ , that iniquitie should abound , and the manners of the Church should be corrupted , towards the iudgement day , that 's nothing but the invndation of sinne , wherein the religion shall blend in transgression against the Lord , with Atheists , Nullifideans , Miscreants of the world , and damned crew , to iustifie that of Christ , Iniquitie shall abound , loue and charitie shall waxe cold : what said I , shall we of the religion , sort with sinners in their sinne ? O telit not in Gath , &c. Surely it breaks my hart to think how we faile in faith , and fall in transgression , by lying , stealing , & oppressing , so as bloud toucheth bloud , generall sinnes , will haue a generall iudgement , and when we are most secure , then will the Lord be most seuere ; as it was in the daies of Noah , so shal the comming of the sonne of man be .

Domestica mala maiora sunt lachrimis , our home euills are greater then that they can be expressed with teares : Protestants sinnes are Protestants staines , and worse then all that , we growe shameles , we dare to sinne with Absolon in the sight of the sunne , no feare of God or man , no loue of vertue , no hatred of vice , no remorse of conscience , no danger of soule , no griefe of the spirit of God within vs , no horror of hell or death without vs , can restraine the violence of our affections , but sinne we will : surely , if there were no other signe in our Zodiack of a declining world , but our wofull declination from God , it were sufficient to warne vs. I might here shift from the sinnes , to other signes of the latter day , as warres , famine , plagues , and prodigies .

I might tel you that the Turks sword is drunke with the bloud of christians , I might tell you of a famine more general then vsuall , and of a greater dearth of all things , then euer yet this world felt , I might tell you of plagues depopulating the fairest countries & cities of the world , and so , Vt viui non sunt pares mortuis sepeliendis , as the liuing haue bin scarce enough to burie their dead . I might tell you of monstrous births and prodigies . I might tel you of earth-quakes , Inundations , and fierie inflamations , all more frequent and fearefull , then former ages euer sawe , but I had rather keepe still my current , to tell of sinnes within vs , then of signes without vs , tolling on that fearefull day : Nor will I rancke them but out of the register of the liuing , our discord within , cries vengeance without , and there is no poysoned shot to the nusl●d seedes of sedition , could the heauens aboue endure the mutinie of Angels ? or paradise belowe , the groweth of two contrarie seedes ? shall kingdomes then stand , if they be diuided ? and shall the world abide thus distracted , surelie if euer , much more now , Micha his complaint is verified , Mich . 7.5 . Trust ye not a friend , neither put ye confidence in a counseller , keepe the doores of thy mouth from her that lyeth in thy bosome , for the sonne reuileth the father , the daughter riseth vp against her mother , the daughter in lawe against her mother in lawe , & a mans enemies are the men of his own house .

Nay more then all this , Diuulsa , sunt a se inuicem ecelesiae Christi membra , the members of Christ his Church are miserably rent , and torne , one from another , Ephraim against Manasses , and Manasses against Ephraim , both with open mouth , to deuoure poore Iuda . It was said of old , that the warres of Infidels were the peace of Christians , but now the warres of Christians , are the peace of Infidels : and so to conclude this sinne , if discord be the fore runner of ruine , and not so much in regard of priuate state , as of the generall dissolution of all the world , I may safely resolue that the Lords approch is so much the neerer , by how much we are the more diuided .

Paul is yet more particular in his prophecie , of such sinnes , as should abound in the latter daies , which and if you either feele in your selues , or finde them in others , let them be like Baltasser , handwriting vpon your walles , threatning downe-right iudgement , for new done sinnes .

Into whose holy register if you looke you shall finde them thus digested , 1. Timoth . 4.1 . &c. 2. Timoth . 3.1 . &c. 1. into sinnes of Apostasie from the faith , 2. into sins of Rebellion against the faith .

In the latter times the spirit speaketh euidently , that men shal depart from the faith , giue heed vnto spirits of error and doctrine of diuels , they shall speake lies through hipocrisie , and haue their conscience burned with an hote iron , forbidding to marrie , and commaunding to abstaine from meates , which God hath created to be receiued with giuing of thankes , of them which beleeue and know the truth : was there euer in any age more falling from the faith , and sliding into error ? did euer men speake lies with more hypocrisie ? was conscience euer more branded ? doctrines of diuels so diuulged ? forbidding to marrie , and enioyning abstinence from meats , appointed by God ? if thus to faile in faith be an Apostasie from God , & if after such fals followeth iudgment , then is it nere , euen at our dores . Again , if ( as the same Apos : saith ) in the last day shal come perilous times , wherin men shal be louers of their owne selues , couetous , boasters , proud , cursed speakers , disobedient to parents , vnthankful , vnholy , without natural affection , trucebreakers , false accusers , intemperate , fierce , dispisers of thē which are good , traytors , headie , high minded , louers of pleasure more thē louers of God , hauing a shew of godlines , but haue denied the power thereof : I say , if euen now the world be full of such rebellions against the Lord , wee had neede to turne from such , least he be vpon vs ere wee be aware .

And so for further search into this holie Register , looke and yee shall finde that Peter and Iude agree in one , Iude , 18. 2. Pet . 3. that there should be mockers in the last time , which should walk after their owne vngodlie lustes , makers of Sects , fleshlie , hauing not the spirit ; now if the world be burdened with such a byrth , what can wee expect , but the time of its deliuerance to be at hand ?

Lastlie , 2. Esdra . 8.15 . 2 Eldr. 15.16 . I might tell you out of Esdras , of manie miseries and calamities , for them that shall liue in the latter time , that they shall walk in great pride , how the people shall be seditious , not regarding their king , and the Princes should measure their right , by their might .

I might tell you out of him , that the weaker the world is by reason of age , 2. Esdr. 14.16 . the more shall the euills be increased vppon them that dwell therein , that the world hath lost his youth , and the times begin to waxe olde , for the world is diuided into 12 parts , Vers . 9. ten parts of it already are gone , and halfe of the tenth part , that Esau and Iacob struggle in the wombe of Sara , and Iacobs hand held fast the heele of Esau , intimating as hee saith , 2. Esdr. 6.8.9 . that Esau is the ende of this wicked world , and Iacob is the beginning of it that followeth . Sara is heauie of her byrth , and would be dis-burdened .

Musculus in his Epistle Dedicatorie before the Psalmes , and written to the Senate & Consull of Berna , sheweth the accomplishment of all these , and tells that they are past , come , & gone , harbengers of the Lordes wrath , and neere approach of his comming : Adding further , that the impunitie of sin , is a signe of present iudgement , in these wordes ; Excrescunt omnis generis flagitia , idque multis in locis prorsus impune . Sinnes of all natures growe vp , and in most part of the world , go vnpunished .

It was the subuersion of Ely his house , it will be the destruction of all the world . Further he saith , Non licet impune studere pietati , innocentiae , & vt illa ait de deo nec male nec bene loqui conceditur , though sinne go vnpunished , yet righteousnes shall be afflicted in the latter day , when it shall not be safe , to speake either well or euill of God himselfe , to speake euill of God , will be thought diuellish , to speake well of God , wil be deemed too saintish .

Thus to censure sinne and sinners , in the last day ( euen in this our day ) as the surest signe of our sauiours neere approch , I hope it will be no preiudice to the godly , who sigh to see it , and grieue to feele it : and if any man thinke otherwise , and be contrarie minded , he may put farre from him the euill day , and sleepe in his securitie , till the trumpet blowe , yet with this caution , that as secure sinning hastned on the iudgment of water , so will it doe of fire , & with the floud of our wickednes , will rise the vengeance of our God , till it come fifteene cubits aboue the highest mountaine of Ararat , that is , til fire haue fined vs fit for our God , who will emptie all vpon his sommons , and fill all vpon his sentence , heauen with the saued , and hell with the damned . And so to conclude this worlds dissolution with it transgression , sure I am , that all such as are sencelesse in sinning , shal be sensible in burning , as also that the sicke body , is nearest death when it hath no feeling of it maladie , the world is no lesse sicke then sencelesse , & in a deadly Lathtrgie it feeleth no maladie : what hereafter may be I know not , he knoweth best who knoweth all : but sure I am of this , that sinne was neuer more sinfull , shameles , nor sencelesse , the sound thereof in this our Iron age , is I kethefall of Nilus , ad itla quae catadupa nominentur , where falling from the steepe hilles to the owe bottomes , the inhabitants are deafe with the continuall fall therof : I say deafe , in regard of custome , but apprehensiue enough of things lesse frequent . Or it is like the motion of the heauenlie Orbes , of so speedie a course , and high an harmonie , as Tully saith , Vt aures hominum capere non possunt , that mens eares can not catch it .

Woe is mee to tell , Hoc sonitu completae aures hominum absorauerunt : the drumme of sinne hath made deafe the eares of men , and like the people of Catadupa , wee heare anie fall but that of Nilus , wee apprehend anie sounde but that of sinne , so loude , so speedie , and so vsuall , as it whirleth about the whole world , senseles , either of the shower or shout of it invndation ; the Lord diminish our sinnes , & increase our Faith , so as our loue may abound yet more and more , in all knowledge , and in all feeling , that wee may allow those things that are best , that wee may be pure , and without offence , vntill the day of Christ , filled with the fruits of righteousnes , Phillip . 1.9 &c. which are by Iesus Christ , vnto the glorie and praise of God . Amen .

Amen .

THE DREADFVLL DAY . The second Sermon . Verse . 28.

So Christ was once offered to take away the sinnes of many , and vnto them that looke for him , shall he appeare the second time without sinne vnto saluation .

THe day of doome thus discouered , it now remaines , we come to the dissolution thereof , by Christ the worker of al our good , and the determiner of all our euils . In deliuerie wherof , it is with me as it was with Tymothius the Musitian , of whom it is said , that when he plaide before Alexander the great , he euer changed his tune , as he sawe the king affected . From the Ionick to the Lidian if he saw him dumpish , and from the Lidian to the Ionick harmonie , if he saw him too mirthfull . If such force was in Musick , to compose the kings heart , and to bring it within the compasse of his key and melodie , of how much greater power is the word of God , to raise vp the soules of his Saints , as we see them either deiected with too much iudgement , or emboldened with too much mercy .

When the law hath wounded , the Gospell must cure , and in the temper of both , must be our ingredience , oyle and vinegar must be powred alike into the wounded man , least vinegar without oyle might too much corrode , or oyle without vinegar might make too supple : it may be the keene knife of incision hath lanted too deepe in your religious hearts , and that the day of doome like a dampe hath put out all the delights of pleasure , it may be the feare of fire , and combustion of this bad world , hath made you doubtfull of a better : it stands vs vpon therefore to helpe the maladie with a more gentle pultesse , to beate backe the dampe with a more glorious light , & to quench the feare of fire with the Ocean of a greater mercy .

And that is by Christ , whose painefull passion , as it hath cancelled all our sinnes , in his first comming so theglorie of his resurrection shall giue vs life , when he shall appeare the second time without sinne vnto saluation . In a word , Christ his owne & alone sacrifice , hath taken away our sinne , death and doome , and to all that looke for him he shall appeare againe , tread vpon all , and lead captiuitie captiue .

It is said of Christ in respect of his person , that he is fairer then the sonnes of men : and it may be likewise said of his offices , that in all excellencie , they are aboue the dignities of men , a Prophet more powerfull , then euer Moses was , a Priest more pleasing then euer Aaron was , and a King more puissant then euer Me●chisedec was , for these are gone , but of his kingdome , prophecie , and priesthood , there is no end .

So vrged by the holy Ghost , in the whole course of this Epistle against the Iewish nation , who whilest he liued , maligned his person , and since his death hath persecuted his cause . Giue me leaue thē my deare brethren , to disswade you from such impietie , and as an abetter of the cause of Christ , yet further to build you on , that being rauished with the beautie of his brightnes , you may be enamored with the loue of his person , and so euer liue to loue him , who hath loued you , and giuen himselfe a sacrifice for the sinnes of all the world , and in whom now all things are become anew , new heauen , new earth , new Prince , new Priest , new Altar , new sacrifice , new testament , new tabernacle , old things are passed away , Aaron is buried with his sinagogue , Law and all , in the bowels of Christ , Michael our great Prince , standeth for the children of his people , Dan . 12.1 . & Melchisedec our high Priest is priest to bleed , & plead for the children , ô Lord , which thou hast giuen him .

Now of this holy offering and sole sacrifice of Christ , for the saluation of our soules , once done by him , but often pleaded by vs , as the last issue of al our pleadings against sinne , hell , death , doome , and diuell , I am to speake if God will , and as the text shall guide me in that truth . Wherein first I doe obserue sufficiencie , to make the sacrifice more soueraigne , in that Christ by once suffering , tooke away the sinnes of many . The worlds perfection , grewe from one daies worke to sixe , and then came the Sabboth of rest , wherein the Lord sawe with solace , the perfection of all his creatures . But in the blessed worke of our redemption , all was done at once , not many sufferings , many deaths , or many sacrifices , like Aaeans were required , for our repaire , but one was sufficient to satisfie his father , & saue his Saints : and therefore I may well say , as it is in my text , So Christ once suffered and it was sufficient .

All things in Christ are absolute and vniuersall , from whose sufficiencie to satisfie and saue , who detracteth any thing , is subiect to a rufull raze : who addeth any thing as of his owne , is in danger of a cursse , with an execration .

I say , he is all sufficient in name , nature , and office , his name is Iesus , and that sufficient to saue : his nature is Emanuel , God with vs , God in vs , and God for vs , all sufficient in himselfe , all sufficient for vs , we need none other . And for his offices wherein is he deficient , as a Prophet he instructeth our soules , as a King , he conquers our enemies : and as a Priest , he pleaseth our God , and none but he , of whom the Father said , This is my welbeloued sonne , in whom I am well pleased , heare him .

The Saint at Sychar , Ioh . 4.5 . run to the citie , and said ; Come see a man that hath told me all that euer I did , is not he that Christ ? so may I say , come see a man that hath vndone all the euil that euer we did , and is not he a Sauiour ? by our first fall we lost our place , we displeased our God , & wee brought vpon vs and ours , a curse with corruption , but he hath recouered our losses , repaired our ruins , pleased our God , and conferred vpon vs and our children a blessing with eternitie .

If any man say I haue done it for him , let him be the vnitie , and if any dare say , I haue done it with him , let him be of the trinitie : if not , be silent ô heauens , and thou earth say nothing : ô men be ye mute , Angels hush , and ye fierie Cherubines couer your faces , ere ye presume to flie before him . It s not one of you in particular , nor all in generall , that are sufficient to purge our sinnes , plead our cause , or purchase our place .

The Prophetesse hath conceiued and borne a sonne , Esay . 8.3 . Mahershalalhash-ban is his name : that is , make speed to the spoile , hast to the prey . It s he that hath taken away the riches of Damascus , and the spoile of Samaria , before the king of Ashur . It is he that hath led captiuitie captiue , & giuen gifts , euen remission of all our sinnes , and euerlasting life , to the which God bring vs. It is the Lord allsufficient , who alone of all the world , & none other , hath fulfilled the lawe , satisfied for sinne , broken the sting of death , and conquered hell : it is he that hath subdued all by the might of his power , and redeemed all in the depth of his mercies , the serpent stung vs , and none could kill the venome , or expel the poyson , but the blood of the Physition : no pultesse , no playster , no cunning , no craft , no art of the Apothecarie , no Fullers sope , could worke or wash out the staines of sinne , but the alone blood of our Sauiour : no gold , no siluer , no merit of Saint , or might of Angell , could beg , or buye out our bondage , but it must be the deare death of the Redeemer .

Our aduersaries haue endangered themselues in ramming vp the perfect , pleasing , and perpetuall sacrifice of Christ his death , once offered for all , by their dayly sacrificing in their masse , as if his alone suffering once for all vpon the crosse , were not sufficient without iteration , which were an argument of it imperfection . Againe , haue they not impeached the honour of their Christ , as insufficient to saue , when they make his mercy not sufficient without their merit , his grace not sufficient without their works , his free pardon not sufficient , without their deare indulgence ? his true and tried word not sufficient , without their tyring traditions , his sacraments not sufficient without their additions of oile , creame , and spittle , in the one , and of Pix , print , and sacring in the other : his Sabbaoths not sufficient , without their farre fetched festiualls and ferialls , his heauen not sufficient without their hellish purgatorie , his mediation not sufficient without their intercession of Saints , & Angels . Nay more then all that went before , and I yearne to speake it , his blood not sufficient , without the blood of Hales , In a Primer of Salisburie vse printed at Paris . 1532. and Becket , according to that , Tu per Thomae sanginem quem parte impendit , fac nos christe scandere quo Thomas ascendit . Thou by the blood of Thomas , which for thee he did spend : make vs ô Christ thither to clime where Thomas did ascend .

But good Lord , how long wilt thou endure such indignitie against thy Christ ? how long shall they thus and thus spit in his face , nip his cheekes , beate his body , curse his soule , & trample vnder foote the blood of his couenant ? Surely , surely , this people haue committed two sinnes , they haue forsaken thee , the fountaine of liuing water , and digged vnto themselues cesternes , euen broken cesternes , which will hold no water .

Sampson in his daliance with Dalilah , lost but the haire of his head , they in their spirituall dalyance ( as they tearme it ) haue cut off , not onely haire , but head and all . There was no smith found in all the land of Israel , for the Philistines said , lest the Hebrewes make them swords , or speares . So our aduersaries , whilest they robbe vs of our Christ , 1. Sam . 3.19 . haue taken from vs all meanes of munition , and leaue vs no toole to worke with , but of their owne sharpning .

They deale with vs , as Ier oboam the sonne of Nebot did , which caused Israel to sinne , and said it is too farre to goe to Ierusalem , it is sufficient to stay here at Dan , and Bethel , there is a calfe at Dan , and a calfe at Bethel , with an holy day to the Lord , a cake at Dan , & a cake at Bethel with an holy day to the Lord : But good Lord how long shall they waine vs from the pretious blood of our Christ as insufficient , and fill vs with the winde of their vaine imaginations ? how long shall they dimme the gold of thy sanctuarie , and robbe thee of thine honour ?

They haue left vnto thee , the wretched crowne of thornes , & taken to themselues the diademe of worldly honour : they haue put into thy hands an hollow reed , and taken to themselues , the Imperiall scepter : they haue left thee poorly ryding vpon an asse , and painfully hanging vpon the tree , whilest themselues in their papall pride , do iustifie their Persian pompe , ride vpon their tamed and trapped steeds , and hang vpon the shoulders of men .

And yet as if all this were not sufficient to set vp themselues , and to pull thee downe as insufficient , they haue dimmed the glorious light of thy word , derned thy prophecy , with Romish iustitutions , Decretals apostaticall , lying Oracles , Illusions , & flattering Diuinations , but good Lord how long ?

Finally , for the honour of thy Priest-hood , how haue they extenuated the vertue therof , as not sufficient , either to sacrifice , or to be sacrificed once for all , with out their iteration of a daily masse , in their missall , with an vsurped authoritie of Melchisecks order , which is so proper to Christ , as it cannot passe from one to another , the words in the originall will so beare it : Heb . 7.24 . This man because he endureth euer , hath a Priest-hood which cannot passe from one to an other .

I doe secondly obserue in this once offering of Christ to make it the more soueraigne , vniuersalitie , where it is said to take away the sinnes of many : and in another place , the blood of Christ doth clense vs from all our sinnes : and againe , he is the propitiation for our sins , & not for ours only , but for the sins of al the world : to teach vs , the al the promises of God run vpon an vniuersall grace of fered to all , though receiued of fewe , according to that , Omnia in christo sunt noua , categorica , & catholica . All things in Christ are new , absolute , & vniuersall , promises in the scriptures run vpon an vniuersall grace offered ; As , Come vnto me all , &c. He gaue his onely begotten sonne , that all that beleeued in him , &c. Yet euer with limitation of comming , beleeuing , and looking for him , that should appeare the second time .

And here a little examine the words , and see the effectuall working of Christ his death , in this his sole sacrifice , which is , as you here see , to take away the sinnes of many .

He tooke to himselfe no kingdomes , crownes , or dignities of this world , but crosse , curse , and crueltie , to heale our maladie . A different death , of his & ours , for our death is the reward of sinne : his death is the ruine of sinne : our death doth credit it , his death doth cure it ; he died that did no sinne , to take away the sinnes of many : we die , who neuer did wel to take away the righteousnes of one : ô soueraigne death , & sweet sacrifice , that tooke away , not the sins of one among all , or of some few among many , but it tooke away the sins of all , who sought into his death for life , & searched into his wounds as Thomas did .

No age , no condition of person , no sexe , but either of all sorts some , or many among all , haue benefited so much as the saluation of their soules commeth vnto , by the death of their deliuerer : yea I may safely say with the blessed Apostle , that through peace made by that blood , of that his crosse , Colloss . 1.20 . it pleased God to reconcile to himselfe , through him , all things which are both in earth , and which are in heauen , a sacrifice so soueraigne , as you may there see , that not onely the Saints haue longed for it , but the very Angels haue desired to behold it , being the confirmation of their high & angelicall state , therby so established , as now they shall neuer fall againe .

Lastly , soueraigne in the generall , that it left no staine behind , but tooke away the sinnes of many : and ( as I may say ) quit vs of all transgression . And if any man aske how I answere by curing , couering , not imputing , and forgetting : as and if he should say , that sinne which I cannot cure , I will couer : that which I can neither cure nor couer , I will not impute , that which I can , neither cure , couer , nor but impute , I will forget , and this is the free forgiuenes of sinne , and pardon of our offences done without meede or merit of any , Esay . 63.1 . but of him who spake in righteousnes , and is mightie to saue .

I doe further obserue to make this sacrifice more soueraigne , a facilitie in vs , to apprehend so great a benefit onely applied by faith , in looking , & longing after Christ , his glorious appearing . For so it is here said vnto thē that looke for him , he shall appeare the second time without sinne vnto saluation .

When Naaman the Syrian , 2. Kings . 5 , 10. &c. should be healed of his leprosie , Elisha sent a messenger vnto him saying , goe and wash thee in Iorden seauen times , and thou shalt be cleansed , but Naaman was wroth , and went away , saying : Are not Abanah and Phatpat , riuers of Damascus , better then all the waters of Israel ? But his Seruants came and saide , Father , if the Prophet had commanded thee a great thing , wouldest thou not haue done it ? How much rather then , when he saide to thee , Wash and be cleane . The Leprosie of Naaman cleaueth vnto vs , sinne hath seazed vppon all flesh , and ther 's no washing can clense it , but the bloud of our Christ , which to apprehend by faith , looking , and longing after it , is the meane of our clensing , be it farre from anie to value those Springs , with the waters of Damascus : Nor is it any great thing ( as it is in my text ) to looke , and be saued , to wash and be clensed , all done by faith , which apprehends Christ Iesus , with all the benefites of his passion , which is remission of sinnes , and euerlasting life , to the which , God bring vs.

So then I say , for the surer seale and certainty of this our clensing by Christ his bloud , our soules are filled with the sweetnes therof , & all is thus conueied vnto vs. 1. Verbo . quo offertur . 2. Fide , qua recipitur . 3. Spirita , quo applicatur . 4. Sacramento , quo consignatur . The word of God , it offers this grace : the hand of Faith , it receiues this grace : the spirit of Truth , it applyes this grace : and the holie Sacrament , confirmes this grace : and thus are we assured of our daily clensing , and the bloud of Christ is yet sprinkling , and fresh bleeding , to all the regenerate .

Yet as you see with this caution , that we look & long for his second comming , otherwise it is but a defeizance of all the good that he hath purchased , for though grace preuenting , grace assisting , & grace perfecting be al his , & none ours ; yet we must by Faith apprehend that grace , ere euer wee can be crowned with glory : for true it is , Qui fecit te , non saluabit te , sine te , he that made thee , without thee , wil neuer saue thee without thee : aske , and haue , seeke , and ye shall finde , knocke , and it shall be opened , looke for him , and hee will appear vnto your saluation . I looked ( saith Iohn ) and loe a Lambe stood vpon mount Syon : Reu . 14.1 . he saw no Lambe till hee looked , and he lifted vp his eyes , before hee sawe the mountaine of his holinesse : I lifte mine eyes , Psal . 121. ( saith Dauid ) vnto the hills , and my helpe came from the Lord : his eyes were aboue , ere he gained any help below . Hos . 12.4 . And it is saide of Iacob , that hee wept and prayed , and found God at Bethel , he found him not , till he sought him in prayers and teares .

And heere I would obserue a difference betwixt the godly and the wicked of this world , in their different lookes , much looking in this world , little longing after another : one looks vpon his honour , wealth and witte : another , vpon his wife , children , and seruants : one lookes vpon his pleasure : another vpon his profites : but who looketh towardes him that shall appeare the second time , without sinne vnto Saluation ? one seeth his sin , & is sencelesse : another seeth his death , & is desperate : both loathe the daye of Christ his comming , they neither looke nor long after the redemption of their bodies , the reason is , they haue no Faith . For as it is true , how can they call on him , of whom they haue not heard ? so is it as true , how can they looke or long for him , on whome they haue not belieued ? Abraham was glad to see my day ( saith Christ ) hee looked and longed for him : so did Symeon , Elizabeth , Anna , and Zacharie : they looked after the consolation of Israel , they longed after grace , that they might come to glorie . So haue the Elect of God euer done , they haue longed after the redemption of their bodies , and they desired to see the Sonne of God comming in the cloudes , whereas the wicked stand in dread of that gloomie day , and looke for the mountaines to fall vpon them .

O well , Esay . 30.18 . said the Prophet ; The Lord is the God of iudgement , blessed are all they that waite for him . And Paul , after hee had wept ouer the damned crue of his dayes , when he came to mention the memory of Gods Saintes on earth , he said with solace , Phil . 3.20 . to his saued soule , But our consolation is in heauen , whence also wee looke for the Sauiour , euen the Lord Iesus Christ , &c.

Peter is much more speedie in the expectance of Christ his second comming : 2. Pet . 3.12 . who after he had told to the terror of the wicked , that there was Dies , & Deus vitionis , a God , and a day of reuenge , in which the heauens should passe away with a noyse , and the Elements should melte with heate , and the Earth , with the workes that are therein , should be burned vp : seeing ( saith hee ) that all these things must be dissolued , what manner persons ought wee to be in holie conuersation and godlinesse ; looking for , and hasting vnto the comming of that day of God , by the which , the heauens being on fire , shall be dissolued , and the Elements shall melt with heate , but we looke for newe heauens , and a new earth , according to his promise , wherein dwelleth righteousnes , &c.

To incourage the Saints at Corinth , 1. Cor . 1.7 . that they are not destitute of anie gifts , hee tells them they are wanting of none , in that they are euer wayting for the appearing of our Lord Iesus Christ . If then he that wayreth , is destitute of no good gift , surely , hee that neuer loketh therafter , is destitute of all .

Lastlie , after that Paule had told Titus , that the grace of God that bringeth saluation to all men had appeared , and taught , that wee should denie vngodlinesse , and worldly lusts , that we should liue soberlie and righteouslie , 2. Titus 13. and godlily in this present world , at last shutteth vp all , with the looking for of that blessed hope , and appearing of that glorie , of that mightie God , and Sauiour Iesus Christ .

And so for vse of this doctrine , and to close with your religious eares and hearts , which heare me this day : Surely , surely , I am perswaded , ther was neuer age , lesse mindful of the comming of their Christ to iudgement , or lesse desirous of the day of his appearance in glorie , Cupio dissolui , is far from this dissolute age : and who with the liuely & louely Hart , breathes after the wells of those sweet waters ? I meane the fresh springs of glory . For who wayteth , who looketh , who hasteth vnto the comming of that day of God ? Gen. 24.63 .

Isaac toward the euening went out to pray in the fielde , he lift vp his eyes and looked , and behold , the Cammels came : hee gained Rebecca , by praying for the accomplishment of that he looked and longed after : the mariage of the Lambe is come , and his wife hath made her selfe readie , readie with Lampe and Oyle , 1. Thess. 4.17 . to meete him in the cloudes , and to be caught vp to meete the Lord in the aire , and so euer be with him . Bretheren , comfort your selues one another , with these words .

I do further obserue the benefit we receiue by the sole sacrifice of Christ , which is saluation to such that looke for him , with no sin in himself : for so saith the text , he shall come without sinne , without sin in himself , that is , without the iudgement of our sinnes , which gat hold vpon him , in the daies of his life , & at the hour of his death .

Without sinne , in his Saintes , sufficientlie purged with that his bloud , pleading their cause , and purchasing their place .

And yet behold a greater misterie , I may lay without sinne , in the damned , when all their sinnes shall be turned to shame , and all their wickednes into iudgement , the act of sinning , in some sort shall cease , but the act of burning shal neuer cease : the damned shal die , for all they haue done , and be neuer doing , but euer dying , as Patients in the paine they purchased by their sinnes , at so deare a price , paine , and passion shall cease the sinne , but increase the iudgement ; lust and lucre shall then languish , but the worme shall neuer die .

So now , for vse of all that hath bene said , it may easilie be gathered , that Christ hath a double comming , one in grace , and that s his first comming ; another in glorie , & that s his second comming .

In his first comming , he appeared in all humility : in the second , hee shall appeare in all Maiestie . In the first , he came in the forme of a Seruant to all ; in the second , he shall appeare as a commaunder of all . In the first , hee came to be iudged of the world : in the second , hee shall come to iudge the world . In his first comming , his voyce was not heard , and he fell downe like a showre of Raine , vpon a fleece of Wooll , but his second comming shall be with a shoute , for the dead shall heare his voice , and the graues shall be opened : at his first comming , his Diuinitie was silent , and his humanitie did speak : but at his second comming , his humanitie shall be silent , & his Diuinitie shall speake . When he first came , none would belieue his report , but when hee shall come againe , euery eye shall see him , and euerie tongue shall say , This is hee , whome I haue pierced . In a word , when he first came , hee came to suffer hunger , colde , sinne , shame , lawe , diuell , and death , but when hee commeth againe , hee shall tread vpon all these , with a glorious tryumph : hee shall leade captiuitie captiue , giue giftes vnto men , saluation to his Elect , Iudgement to the reprobate , and glory to his Father .

All this , must his Elect see , as Peter sawe it , when hee saide , Of the which saluation the Prophets haue enquired and searched , which Prophecied of the grace that should come to vs : searching when , or at what time the spirit , which testified before of Christ , which was in them , shuld declare the sufferings that should come vnto Christ , and the glorie that should followe , see then , and behold your King , not crowned with thorns and reproach , ready to be iudged for all : but looke vpon him with his crowne of exceeding glorie at hand , to iudge all .

Againe , I doe obserue out of the text , that as Christ had a double comming , one in grace , & an other in glorie : so hath he performed a double sacrifice , & satisfaction to God , for the sins of our souls

Vpon his first comming , which was the day of grace to vs , but of miserie to him , he pleaded Obedienter , in such obedience as appertained , perfecting in our flesh , the full accomplishment of the lawe of God , as well by internall , as externall obedience .

Againe , hee pleaded for vs , passibiliter , passiuely ; whilest hee suffered and endured for vs , both the torture of crosse & conscience , bearing vpon his blessed bodie , and sauing soule , all the punishments of all our sinnes , his obedient & passiue intercession , made for vs by him , who made all , in respect of the oblation , enlarged it self to all , in that it was offered for all , as also , in respect of sufficiency , it might serue for all , being sufficient for all the world , Si modo crederet , if it could belieue ; How beit , Virtualiter , siue energeticos : that is , in vertue , power , & efficacie , it reacheth onely the faithful belieuers . For so long as wee liue in the kingdome of grace , & so long as the number of the saued is vnaccomplished , so long the vertue of Christ his death worketh , & is effectuall , applied by faith , to bring men to Christ , from grace , to glorie .

But vpon his second comming , Christ shall be glorious , not bearing his Crosse , shame , and smart of sin , but he shall come raigning , ruling , triumphing , and exalted aboue the height of all sublimitie . Then will he pleade for vs , Collocatiue , & fruitiue , hee will gather vs from all Nations vnder heauen , hee will place vs in the reall possession of his celestiall inheritance , and hee will giue vs to enioy full fruition of perfect blessednes .

And as if hee should say : Father , here am I , with the children whom thou hast giuen me , I gaue my soule a sacrifice for their sins , let it be thy pleasure to giue them a kingdome ; For what is it , that I haue gathered them out of a bad world , if I may not place them in a better ? What is it to place thē in a better , if they may not enioy all the delights theros ? O Father , I tooke their sinne for a time , let mee now betake them to thee for euer .

Lastly , it may be here doubted and demaunded , what the spirit meaneth by this , that Christ shall come the second time , without sinne