THE GREAT ASSIZE, OR, DAY OF JUBILEE. Delivered in four Sermons, upon the 20. chapter of the Revel. ver. 12.13.14.15. Whereunto are annexed two Sermons upon the 1. chapter of the Canticles, verse 6.7 The second Impression, corrected and amended by the Author SAMVEL SMITH, Minister of the word of God at Prittlewell in Essex. Math. 12.36. I say unto you, That of every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give an account thereof at the day of judgement. LONDON, Printed by NICHOLAS OKES, 1617. ❧ TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL AND Virtuous Gentlewoman, Mistress JANE ELIOT of Newland Hall, SAMVEL SMITH, wisheth the increase of all true comfort in this life, and eternal happiness in the next. RIGHT Worshipful, the Apostle Paul hath told us, That In the last days shall come perilous times, For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, cursed speakers, Disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without Natural affection, Truce-breakers, false accusers, intemperate, fierce, no Lovers at all of them which are good, traitors, heady, highminded, Lovers of pleasures, more than lovers of God, having a show of godliness, but yet deny the power thereof: And they are the words of our Saviour himself: that as it was in the days of Noah, So shall the coming of the Son of man be. And again, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find Faith upon earth? When were these perilous times Saint Peter speaketh of, if not now? When was there the like security? When gave men themselves over to their own hearts lust more than now? By the which then we see that we are they, Upon whom the ends of the world are come: and that we must all shortly be called to account for these things: The Ninevites fast and repent, the Publicans do fear and quake, when jonas crieth to the one, and john to the other of judgement to come. Ahab is humbled, and Felix trembles, when from Elias and Paul they hear of death and Judgement: yet alas, where is the man among us, that thinks of these things? Do not men cry, Peace, peace, till destruction come upon them, as the Travel upon a woman with child: She thinketh not of the pain until it come, and they think not of this day of reckoning till it come. This is the security of our Age: so that we may now look for an end to be put unto these sinful days: for what are they but the forerunners of that last and dreadful day? The Lord make us wise betimes, that we may think of that Great Assize, and the account that we are then to make. I have here endeavoured in a weak measure to unfold the Doctrine of the day of Judgement, the which I here present unto your Worship, in regard of the demonstration of my unfeigned thankfulness for your extraordinary kindness bestowed upon me: As also in regard of the great affection, and good devotion you bear to the Truth: Accept therefore I pray you, what is here offered unto you, and take in good part my endeavour therein: so I humbly take my leave, Resting Your Worships in all Christian duty to be commanded, SAMVEL SMITH. ❧ To the Christian Reader, Grace and Peace from JESUS CHRIST the Prince of Peace. CHristian Reader, I present here unto thy view, the third public fruit of my ministery, wherein I have endeavoured, that those especially of mine own Hearers, might a second time take notice of my Exercises, that in public I delivered unto them. The night cometh when no man can work: therefore it stands us all in hand, both Minister and People, to esteem of Time as the most precious thing in the world; and the rather, because we know not how soon we shall be called to an account of our Works. Many have had many times many good purposes of heart to cleave unto the Lord, that have been prevented by Death, for want of timely Repentance. It shall then be our wisdom, To agree with our Adversary while we are in the way with him; for if we be but once arrested by Death, we shall be sure to pay the utmost farthing. Use this as a help unto thee, to better thee in the performance of that duty which concerns thee so nearly, That thou must one day give an account of thy Works. If thou reap any benefit by it, give the praise unto God, from whom every good & perfect gift proceedeth; and help me in thy prayers, which I shall take as a full recompense of all my Labours, and be encouraged to spend some hours more in the like duties for thy good. In the mean time I remain Thine in the common Saviour, SAMVEL SMITH. THE GREAT ASSIZE. The first Sermon. REVEL. 20.11.12. etc. 11 And I saw a great white Throne, and him that sat on it, from whose Face fled away both the Earth and the Heaven, and their place was no more found. 12 And I saw the dead both small and great stand before God: and the Books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of Life: & the dead were judged of those things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. 13 And the Sea gave up her dead which were in her: and Death and Hell delivered up the dead that were in them; and they were judged every man according to his deeds. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire: this is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life, was cast into the lake of fire. HAVING spoken (not long since) of the Coming of CHRIST into his Garden, Cant. 5.1. or into his Church, and of his kind and princely offers unto us, suing for entertainment at our hands, being his first coming unto us here in this vale of Tears: I thought it very necessary to speak something of his second coming; that those that will not be moved with the former, might be terrified with the latter. To which purpose I have made choice of this place of Scripture, in which this matter (as you see) is at large described, with many necessary circumstances, needful to be known and learned of every one of us all. For here the second coming of Christ is revealed to Saint john in a vision from Heaven, even in that manner, in which Christ will come at the last day: For these five Verses contain in them nothing else, but a lively and heavenly description of the second coming of Christ to judgement, with all the circumstances belonging to the same. The parts of the Text. For first, if you would know with what Majesty, Power, Integrity, Severity, and Terror, this great judge will come, you may see the person of the judge described in the first verse of this present Text. Secondly, if you would understand what persons must be cited and summoned, who must appear: Saint john saith here, he Saw the dead both great and small, stand before the judge: all that ever are, that have been, or shall be unto the end of the World, must appear before the Throne of CHRIST JESUS. Thirdly, if you desire to be instructed by what means, and after what manner CHRIST JESUS will proceed in judgement: What shall be the Evidences and the Witnesses: What jury shall pass upon every man and woman: The holy Ghost tells us, that the Books shall be opened, that God will judge every man by his own conscience; for that shall give evidence, either with or against thee, either to excuse or accuse thee. Fourthly, and lastly, if you would know what shall be the final end of all men, you may here perceive, that they whose Names are written in the Book of Life, shall be Blessed; But Death and Hell, and Satan, and all ungodly sinners shall be cast into a Lake of Fire and Brimstone for evermore, which is the second death. Now having seen the meaning of the Text; let us come to speak of the several points, one by one in order. I saw a great white Throne, etc. THis Verse contains in it a notable Description of the judge himself. And whereas S. john saith, he saw a great white Throne; that is, Christ jesus revealed it unto him in a Vision; the manner of his second coming to judgement; and withal, commandeth him to write it in a book, for the comfort and instruction of the Church of God for evermore. Hear than we may note the great care and love of JESUS CHRIST, towards his poor Church and people, that he would not have them ignorant of his second coming to judgement: But he doth make it known to his Disciple john, and bids him record it in the book of God for our instruction, that so no man might be ignorant of it: but rather might prepare himself by true repentance, to meet the Lord jesus Christ in the Clouds. Now concerning the Vision, Saint john saw a Great white Throne: he saw a throne set, and this Throne is described by two properties: First a Great Throne; 1 Great Throne. secondy, a white Throne. The first shows the wonderful Might, Majesty, and Power, of the judge. The second shows the Purity, Integrity, and Uprightness of the great judge of the whole world. Mat. 25.31 And as it was showed unto john in a Vision, so our Saviour Christ himself speaketh of it, when he shows, that as earthly Kings, when they will make show of their Regal Power, and Dignity, of their Majesty; they ascend into the Thrones of their Kingdom: even so Christ jesus, when he comes to judgement, he will come with all glory, all his holy Angels shall attend on his Sacred person: And then he will ascend into this Great white Throne of his Glory, to pronounce that final sentence both on the Sheep and on the Goats. Use 1 Here then we see a manifest difference between Christ's coming in the flesh, to be a Mediator and Redeemer, and his second coming to judgement. And surely it makes much for the comfort of God's poor children, that though here they be in want, in misery, and poverty, yet they shall be made partakers of this glory of their head Christ jesus. Secondly, it serveth to astonish all hardhearted sinners, which contemn Christ and his poor members: Christ will at last manifest his power in their just condemnation. Seeing the person of the Use 2 judge is of such endless power, and glory, of such wonderful might and majesty: this must humble all men, when they come to stand in presence of so great a Person as we do when we come to hear the Word Preached and Taught, to receive the holy Sacrament. If we were to come but into the presence of an earthly Prince, how careful and circumspectly would we behave ourselves, to do nothing unbeseeming the presence of so great a person. This is the great care men have, when they come into the presence of an earthly judge, to put off their hats, and to show all tokens of reverence: And yet it is a wonder, to see how unreverently men and women come into the ptesence of the everliving and most high God, unto the presence of the great judge of Heaven and Earth, the King of Kings, and Lord of lords. When we come to pray, or to sing Psalms unto God, how unreverently do some sit with their hats on? would any man do it in the presence of an earthly judge, or a mortal presence? Surely it is an unreverent behaviour, to sit covered, either when we speak unto God by Prayer, or when GOD speaketh unto us in his word. Again, when men come to hear the word of this great judge, the glorious Gospel of jesus Christ: when they read it privately in their houses: It is wonderful to see what little reverence they show in the glorious presence of this great judge. Would any earthly Prince take it in good part, if thou shouldest stand in his presence, and he talk with thee for thy good, and thou shouldst even at that time turn thy back upon him, and fall to wiping of thy shoes, or some base business? Though men dare not do this in the presence of an earthly prince: yet when jesus Christ shall speak unto them in his Word and Gospel, they will more regard the vain and foolish talk of any Boy or Girl that shall prattle in their ears, than the heavenly voice of this great judge CHRIST JESUS. Which shows very plainly, that they care not for CHRIST, and that they make but small account of his Word and glorious Gospel. Oh therefore let us consider when we come, either to speak to God by our prayers, or to hear Christ speak unto us in his Word; that we come to appear in a glorious presence; that so we may come in fear and reverence, as becometh the presence of so great a majesty. Use 3 Seeing the Person of the judge is of such endless Majesty, and power, we must take heed we never do wrong any of his poor members; for Christ he taketh it as done unto himself, and he will never put it up at our hands. Let us therefore embrace the counsel of the Prophet David, in the second Psalm and twelfth verse, Kiss the Son lest he be angry, etc. let us regard his word, embrace his Gospel, love his people, obey his truth, kiss the golden Sceptre of this great and mighty judge of the world, lest in his anger he break us in pieces with his rod of iron. Secondly, 2 White Throne. this Throne of CHRIST JESUS is called a White Throne. Now this white Throne, it betokeneth purity, beauty, sincerity, and integrity: And therefore it showeth that CHRIST JESUS the judge of the whole world, will judge all causes, and all persons, uprightly, sincerely, and purely: no cruelty, no injustice, nor wrong will he do to any creature, but will proceed most sincerely in all uprightness. Indeed, judgement in this world many times swerveth greatly: sometimes the judge is not able to search into the depth of the Cause: sometimes for fear he dareth not do justice: sometimes for favour he is withholden: sometimes bribe's blind his eyes, and pervert the right sentence. But it shall not be so with this judge of the whole world. His sentence is a righteous sentence, he will judge according to truth: he is able to find out any cause, and will examine it to the bottom: he feareth no man's person, he will not be moved with favour to conceal the truth. And as for rewards, he contemns them all; therefore no doubt he will proceed according to justice. This serveth for the comfort Use. 1 of God's people in this world: we see oftentimes the righteous cause is trodden under foot, men's lands and livings are detained, and taken from them by unrighteous judges, and that under colour of Law. Well, let men have patience, and know this, that there will come a day, wherein there shall be justice and true judgement done unto them. Here thy cause shall be heard, it shall be righted; for Christ jesus will be a righteous judge for the poor, the fatherless, and the widow. Again, we see how the members of CHRIST, which make conscience of sin, and care of their lives, to hear the word, and to walk accordingly, they be disgraced and despised of the world. Well, let us learn here to possess our souls with patience: for there will come a day of reckoning, when as our righteous cause will be heard, and we shall have justice, and all the contemners of Christ jesus, and persecutors of his poor members, shall feel the smart of it. Use 2 Secondly, seeing Christ jesus the judge cometh thus with might and Majesty, not as a Saviour or Mediator, but as a judge: It must admonish all men and women now to repent and turn unto God in the time of mercy; Esay 55.6. to seek the Lord while he may be found, and to call upon him while he is near. Now while we live, jesus Christ cometh unto us by his Ministers, as a Saviour to save our Souls, in mercy to bring us to Repentance. But after this life he will no more come as a Saviour, or a Mediator, but as a mighty judge full of Majesty, full of Might, Power, and Glory. And therefore look how men die, so shall the judge find them. If thou die in thy sins, and dost not repent, and seek for pardon at the hand of the judge, whilst thou livest here; There is no hope of mercy after death. For how death leaveth thee, so shall judgement find thee. Cain died many thousand years ago; and judas in their sins: so shall the last day find them. For after death, there is no mercy; but justice and judgement. And one fitting thereon. NOw who this is, which sat upon this Great White Throne, The Person of the judge described. Reu. 14.14. you may see in the Revelation of Saint john, the fourteenth chapter, and the fourteenth verse, I saw a White Cloud, and one sitting on it like the Son of man, having on his head a golden Crown, and in his hand a sharp Sickle. So that we see that it is the Son of man, even CHRIST JESUS GOD and man, that shallbe the judge: And so doth Saint Matthew call him: Mat. 25.31 When the Son of man cometh in his glory, and all his holy Angels with him, then shall he sit upon the Throne of his glory. And again, he titles him by the name of a King; Verse 24. Then shall the King say to them on his right hand, etc. This is taught by the Apostle, We must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ. .1 Cor. 5.10 True it is that our Saviour Christ is King, Priest, and Prophet; a true Prophet, in whom was contained all the secrets and whole counsel of God: A true high Priest, whose Sacrifice alone was able to put away the sins of the whole world. But when he comes in the Throne of his Majesty, to judge the quick and the dead, he shall not come as Priest or Prophet; for these Offices of Christ are finished. For his Prophetical Office, he hath sufficiently revealed the whole counsel of God his Father to his Church and People: First by his holy Prophets; then by himself; after, by his Apostles and Ministers. And therefore seeing that his Prophetical Office is finished, he calls not himself a Prophet, but a King. Again, CHRIST JESUS our Priest, having once for all offered up that propitiatory Sacrifice, for the sins of all the Elect; now this Office of a Priest is likewise finished, and this Sacrifice must be no more iterated and repeated. But now he cometh as a King, in all Majesty and Glory. For though his Prophetical and Priestly Office be accomplished: yet his Princely Office is not finished. But now CHRIST JESUS the judge of quick and dead, shall begin to manifest himself to be a King to all Nations, to men and Angels: Now shall he show himself to be King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, full of all Divine and Heavenly power and glory; For that now at the name of CHRIST every knee shall bow. When our Saviour JESUS CHRIST lived on earth, he came in misery, very base and lowly; every child durst look him in the face. Then every base fellow, every sinful wretch, durst mock him and spit in his face. Herod and Pontius Pilate, and the rabble of the jews, durst then use him at their pleasure. But now, He shall come as a King, full of majesty and glory, guarded and attended upon with many thousands of heavenly Soldiers, even all his holy Angels; and then he will make Herod and Pontius Pilate, yea the greatest Kings and Monarches to stoop. Nay then, all his enemies shall tremble and quake, Zach. chap. 12 ver. 10. and not dare to open their mouths against him. Oh then! what a terror may this be to all wicked and ungodly sinners, that live in sin, to see him come in that wonderful Majesty, to be their judge, whom they have contemned, whose members they have persecuted, and whose word and glorious Gospel they have not regarded, but trodden under foot: for he shall come with a sharp twoedged Sword to cut them in pieces, and a consuming fire to burn up all ungodly sinners. And as he is a King to the wicked, so is he a King to the godly. He alone hath the Sceptre of David, to the endless comfort of those that be the children of his Kingdom. For who is it that curbs Leviathan, snaffles the Devil, bridleth his force and malice? Surely this our King. Who is it that cuts the throat of sin in his members, and taketh away the strength of sin? Surely this King of Kings. Who breaketh the brass bars of Death, and pulleth out the sting of Death? Our sins, that they sting not our souls to the eternal death. None can do that but this our King CHRIST JESUS. Who opens the gate of heaven? who puts his spirit into the hearts of his children, making them to cry Abba, Father? to lift up their souls, and with joy to long after this Kingdom of Heaven? Surely, it is none other in Heaven or earth, but this our gracious King: who being the only immortal and wise GOD, having the Key of Heaven and of the bottomless Pit; he alone can kill and make alive, he alone can lift up to Heaven, and send to Hell: he alone, and none but he, can save and destroy. O what a comfort is this unto all the poor Members of CHRIST JESNS? For what greater joy and comfort can there be to any poor soul than this, to know; that he that is their judge, is their Saviour, a sweet Redeemer, a merciful judge unto them? he will never condemn his own members: Nay, he will crown them with his own Self, and with his own Glory. Use. What must this teach us? Surely, seeing our judge is a King, and that he alone is able to save and to destroy: this must teach us every man and woman (in the fear of God) to yield to this King that true loyalty, that sincere obedience, and service, which this our King requireth of us in his blessed word: Malac. 1.6 If I he a Father, where is mine honour? If I be a Lord, where is my fear, saith the Lord. So will Christ say; If I be a King, where is that loyalty, service, and obedience, that is due unto me? Now Christ jesus is a Spiritual King; and therefore he will be served in Spirit and Truth. O then let us all, with a godly purpose of heart, yield, and resign ourselves, bodies and souls to honour this King, and to perform unto him true and spiritual obedience for evermore. Alas, it is not external and outward service, which he expects: he is not like an earthly king; but he regards the heart and the soul, that is a special thing in his service. And if we shall thus perform this spiritual service and obedience; then we shall show ourselves to be his loyal and dutiful Subjects, and then will he acknowledge us for his Servants: But if we deny to him this service of the heart, and give it to any other, he will then cast us off for evermore. Severity of the judge described. Thus much of the Majesty of the judge, and of his sincerity and uprightness in judgement. Now in the description of the judge, it is further added; that from the face of this judge, both The Heaven and the Earth flee away: And this doth show the wonderful severity of this great judge of Heaven and Earth. We know that men fly those things that they fear and dread: So here the Heaven and Earth do fear the glorious presence of JESUS CHRIST the great judge of the whole world, and seek to hide themselves, that they may not appear before him. This flying of the Earth and the Heavens, and hiding themselves that they dare not appear in the presence of CHRIST: this shows the wonderful majesty, and the great severity and terror of CHRIST JESUS the judge: from whence we observe a threefold instruction. The Heavens and the Earth Use 1 are void of sense, they are great and mighty Creatures: Again, they be very goodly and beautiful Creatures: Besides all this, they never committed any sin: How cometh it to pass then, that they shall fly & hide themselves from the glorious presence of the Son of God? Ans. They never sinned indeed, but yet the sin of man is of that force, that it hath infected both the earth we tread on, and the heavens over our heads, many thousand miles above us. Oh then, see how monstrous a thing sin is in the sight of Almighty God: what a vile thing, that the contagion and infection thereof should hurt & infect the whole Heavens, and make them that they dare not abide the glorious presence of God their Creator. O, should we not abhor sin as the vilest thing in the world? We are afraid of the plague, because it infecteth and killeth men's bodies: But the plague of Sin is a thousand times, and more, to be abhorred and fled from; seeing it poisons and infects both body and soul; & is so contagious, that the creature is afraid to behold the face of the Son of God. Seeing both Heaven and Use 2 Earth shall fly and perish from before the glorious presence of Christ jesus: Nay, they shall burn with fire, as Peter saith: 2. Pet. 3.10.11. All these goodly houses, all thy gold and silver, and costly apparel shallbe burnt with fire: this may teach us moderation and sobriety, in the use of God's creatures. What folly is it, to spend all that a man hath to build a stately house; and yet in the end, it must be consumed with fire, and become nothing else but fuel for the fire? That seeing the heavens and Use 3 the earth, these great and mighty Creatures, these beautiful and excellent works of almighty God's power, which have no sense, nor feeling, nor never sinned: if these shall fly before the Son of GOD, as being not able to endure his presence: Alas, what shall wicked and hardhearted sinners do? what shall become of the vile wretches of the world, which live and delight in sin? where shall the ungodly and sinner appear? what will become of all ignorant souls? what will become of the Blasphemer and Adulterer? If the Heavens and the Earth, these great and glorious creatures which sin not, shall not be able to stand in his presence; Then, what I say, will become of all profane and ungodly sinners? Alas, they shall be even at their wits end, not knowing in the world which way to turn them, nor where to fly for succour? where shall they seek for refuge, when as the judge himself is their enemy? who dares plead for them? dare any Saint or Angel? No, no: no Saint or Angel dares open their mouth to speak one word in their behalf; neither can any creature deliver them from the dreadful vengeance of this terrible judge. Verse 12. And I saw the dead both great and small. Thus have you seen the person of the judge described by his wonderful majesty and power, The persons that shall appear before this judge described. wherewith he will come to judgement; and also by the great severity and terror that shall astonish both the heaven and the earth, and make them to fly from before his presence. Now in this Verse, and that which followeth, is declared who be they that shall appear before this great judge. Namely, I saw the dead, both great and small, etc. Secondly, the evidences that shall be brought in, and what witnesses shall be produced, either to excuse, or accuse, in these words; And the Books were opened. Object. And I saw the dead, both great and small, etc. Before we come to speak of the words, here may a question arise: Namely, How this can be true that Saint john saith, He saw the dead, both great and small? For we believe that Christ jesus shall judge both quick and dead; not only the dead, but the living: and Paul saith, 1. Cor. 15. We shall not all die, but we shall be changed: they that be living at his coming. Then how doth this place agree with them, seeing S. john saith here, He saw the dead? Hear is none spoken of, but the dead, no mention of the living. I answer. Saint john saith, Answ. that He saw the dead: Not that he saw not the living too. For he saw (no doubt) both quick and dead stand before God. But he speaketh here, only of those, of whom there might be some doubt. For if the dead, and they which have been rotten so many thousand years, shall appear, and stand before God: How can we think that any of the living shall be wanting? if that they which have been dead for six thousand years, and are turned to ashes, shall be brought to judgement: then (no doubt) they which be found living when Christ shall come to judgement: So then, it is evident, that though Saint john speak here only of the dead, because there might be most doubt of them: yet he said, in a vision all men, both quick and dead, stand before almighty God at the Bar of JESUS CHRIST. Doct. Comfort to the godly that they shall rise again I saw the dead. Hence may we raise a double Doctrine: First, a notable comfort for the souls of God's children; namely, that the dead bodies of God's children do not perish; they are not cast away, and lost, when they die, but they shall rise again. They shall be purified and made a glorious body; and they shall stand in the presence of the Lord jesus Christ, and shall see his glory. And therefore let us not think, that when death cometh and separateth the soul from the body, that then the body doth perish, and is cast away: No, no: it shall rise again: it is but laid in the Grave, as in a sure Chest; and there it is at ease, and lieth asleep, as in a bed of dowlne: But when CHRIST JESUS shall come to judgement, it shall rise again. For we must know that every true believer is made a member of CHRIST. And not only our souls are united to Christ, but even our dead bodies, when they be laid in the Grave; they still remain the dear members of his mystical Body, and therefore shall not perish, but rise again to glory. And for our further confirmation in this point of Resurrection, Resurrection proved. let us see how it is confirmed to us by the testimony of the holy Scriptures: as that of Daniel; Dan. 12.13 They that sleep in the dust shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to everlasting shame. And the Lord God by the Prophet Hoseas, doth make unto his Church this gracious promise, Hosea 13.14. I will redeem thee from the power of the grave, I will deliver thee from death: O death, I will be thy death; O grave, I will be thy destruction. This is cleared by the testimony of jesus Christ himself. joh. 5.28. The hour shall come, in the which all that are in the grave, shall hear his voice, and they shall come forth; And they that have done good shall go into the resurrection of Life; and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of condemnation. This is taught by the Apostles of Christ jesus, in divers places of their Epistles. As, Behold, I show you a Mystery: 1. Cor. 15.52. we shall not all sleep; but we shall be changed, and that in the twinkling of an eye, at the last Trump. And this is that which all of us confess to believe, as one of the most principal Articles of our faith; The resurrection of the dead: Phil. 3.21. So that we see it is clear, that the godly and the wicked shall both arise. But the ends of their resurrection are different, the one shall rise to life eternal, the other to perpetual shame, and eternal destruction: So that howsoever, it shallbe a joyful day to the godly, that have the sting of Death taken away from them through Christ his death, yet the wicked shall have no benefit by it; and therefore unto them it cannot properly be called a Resurrection, no more than the taking of a malefactor out of prison to be executed, can be called a Delivery. But it shall be with the godly and the wicked, at that day, as it was with Pharaohs servants, Genesis chapter 40. both of them were taken out of prison, but the one of them to be restored to his Office, to minister before the King, but the other to be executed, and put to a cruel death: Even so shall it be with the godly and the wicked at the last day: Both shall arise out of their graves as out of a prison; but the one to be ever with the Lord; ministering praises unto him for evermore: the other to be banished from his presence, and sent into everlasting condemnation. For unto them alone is the resurrection a benefit, where remission of sins goes before, as we are taught in the Creed. This must needs be a great comfort to GOD'S Children, Use. 1 when we can say with job chap. 19 I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that I shall see him with these eyes: This same body shall arise, this very body for substance, though purged and cleansed from sin, yet the same for substance shall rise again: and these my eyes which have been careful to seek Christ jesus, to seek his glory, to read his blessed Word, to relieve the poor members of CHRIST; that these my eyes shall see my blessed Redeemer, to my endless joy: And these mine ears which have been careful to hear thy holy word to save my soul: they shall hear his sweet and blessed voice, saying unto me; Come ye blessed of my Father. For the bodies of GOD'S children shall not perish, but shall rise to glory, and be made like unto the glorious Body of jesus Christ. Oh how this should move all men and women, 1. Cor. 15 to use their bodies well, to the honour of Christ jesus; seeing he will not let them perish, but will crown them and glorify them for ever. Secondly, this must needs be a fearful terror unto all profane and filthy sinners, who bestowed their bodies wholly in the service of sin and Satan: They shall look on him whom they have pierced, and shall lament, Zachar. 12.10. For even their dead bodies shall rise too; but how? to judgement, to torment, and to burn for ever in the lake of fire and brimstone. Thou hast set open thy wanton and adulterous eyes, to behold vanity; thou hast delighted to hear vanity, more than goodness, thou hast used thy tongue to lying, deceit, swearing, etc. and hast run to vain sports, and pastimes on the Lord's day, to the dishonour of CHRIST JESUS, to serve the Devil, and thine own flesh. Oh know, that thy body shall one day rise again to judgement, to torment, to be cast into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone. Consider the rich Glutton, Luke 16. he should be a warning to all ungodly sinners. He gave his body to all kind of uncleanness, pride, drunkenness, etc. He gave his tongue to lying, swearing, and cursed speaking; and now is his body tormented, and would give even a whole world, if he were Lord over it, for one drop of water, to cool his flaming tongue. O let him be a warning to all sinners; and teach us to use our bodies well; to look to our eyes, to our ears, and to set a Watch before our mouths, for fear lest we dishonour GOD by them, and bring endless woe unto ourselves. Well then, you see, that as it is an exceeding great joy to God's Saints, that they shall rise again; so is it a terror unto the wicked, that they shall Rise again to judgement, 1. Sam. 2. It were well with the wicked man, with the Drunkard, etc. if their bodies might never rise; if they might rot and perish in corruption, and that their soul might be even as the soul of a beast, a vapour utterly to be extinguished. But now there is more behind, they shall one day come to judgement: And therefore Saint john telleth us in this place, that he saw the dead both great and small, stand before God. Even our dead bodies must rise, either to honour, or dishonour; either to joy, or to pain; to salvation, or damnation: And therefore, let us bethink ourselves of this betimes. Both great and small:] Great and Small, who? These words may admit a double exposition: for it may seem this; that by Great and Small is meant those that be great men grown; or else small children: young and old, all must appear. For, we see that many die even little children, young Infants of a span long; some again die men of years. Well, both great and small must appear: none shall be so young, or so little, but that they must stand before GOD; and none so great, or so strong, but they must appear likewise. Secondly, by great and small may be understood all sorts and degrees of men, and women; great men, and great women; poor men, and poor women; All sorts and conditions, must come to judgement; as well the prince, as the subject, as well the rich, as the poorest Beggar: as though Saint john should have said; I saw all men that ever have been, or shall be to the end of the world; none shall be wanting: the rich and poor, young and old, high and low, married and unmarried, bond and free, all must stand before God. Oh, what a wonderful assembly will this be, to see so many millions of thousands: It is a great sight to see an Army of men of a thousand; But here shall be a thousand thousands: Even all men, women, and children, that ever have been, or shall be, to the world's end: None shall be wanting, the rich, and poor; young, and old; high, and low; bond, and free; all must stand before God: and therefore it is well called the day of the Lord, when all the offspring of Adam shall stand before God. Seeing S. john saw the dead both great and small, Uses diverse, 1. stand before God, that is, all sorts of men and women, high and low, rich and poor, bond and free, all must appear, and hold up their Hand at the Bar of this great judge: Surely, this aught to move all men, both great and small, rich and poor, to make conscience of their lives, to repent of all their evil ways, to turn to GOD by true repentance; for you see here no excuse can serve the turn, no avoiding of this appearance; all must appear: the very Devils themselves, 2. Cor. 5. Esay 30. and all the damned spirits must come to judgement. Tophet is prepared for the King, the judge, the Gentleman, the rich man, if they be wicked, their riches shall not be excused, nor the poorest shall not be forgotten. Surely, and if we have any care at all, what shall become of our poor souls at this day? It ought to persuade all men, both poor and rich, both Minister and People, to repent, to turn to Almighty God to lead new lives; that then we may rejoice with joy and comfort. This did make Paul to labour to keep a good conscience, Acts 24.16 before God and all men: and why? Because there would come a day when all must arise to judgement, and give a strait account of all their thoughts, words, and works. And the same reason should move us likeiwse to keep a clear conscience. And what is the cause that men live in sin, and defile their bodies, with many thousand filthy sins? Surely, because they think not of this day when they must stand before God. If they could but think of this day, that they must all come to a reckoning: O, it would stay and bridle their carnal hearts from many foul and filthy sins, which now they commit with greediness, 2. Cor. 5.11. Acts 17.3. This will be a blessed day to all the children of God to hear the judge say unto them, Come ye blessed. O happy day, O blessed voice. But to the ungodly sinners that live in sin, to the Drunkard, Blasphemer, etc. this will be a terrible and fearful day, to hear the woeful voice of the judge, Go ye cursed into etc. Oh doleful voice, Oh heavy news, O fearful Sentence, O woe, and ten thousand woes to all ungodly sinners: woe then to the blasphemer: woe to the drunkard, etc. woe unto all ungodly and wretched sinners: for there is no escaping of this Sentence. All must appear, all must stand before God, all must come to their answer. None shall be so great to escape, or so small to be forgotten. And then woe to them that shall rise to this fearful and woeful Sentence, and heavy news of condemnation. Oh, it had been good for such men, if they had never been borne, or had been brought forth as loathsome Toads or Serpents; for than begins their eternal misery and condemnation. O then, again, and again, let us bethink ourselves, that we must come to judgement; we must be called to a reckoning: we cannot escape the Sentence of judgement by any means whatsoever. Again, where Saint john saith, He saw the dead: Hear Use. 2 is matter of endless comfort to all the poor members of jesus Christ. In this life, who is more full of woe, who more full of pain in body and soul, than God's children? Long and tedious sicknesses, many annoyances: Some be sore from top to toe, as job was; some maimed in body, as the poor man was. john 5. Well, when our bodies shall now arise, they shall not be weak, or lame, or maimed; but a perfect body, sound and a glorious body. All pain shall have an end, all woe shall cease: But as for the ungodly, Psal. 1.6. it is not so with them: But they shall arise, that both body and soul may go to hell together. Stand before God. I saw the dead, etc. Hear we see again, that our accounts must begin before God himself: we must stand naked in his sight; and who then can think to hide his sins from him? He knoweth the heart, and trieth the reins; and his eyes are like a flame of fire. Revel. 2. O how this should move every man and woman, often to bethink himself of this time, when he shall come to his account, even before the eternal God, who cannot be deceived, nor bribed. If a malefactor come before the judge, that is guilty of treason or murder; how he quakes to think of the terror, and severity of the judge! he is afraid, and trembles, to appear in his presence. How much more should we tremble and quake? And how should hardhearted sinners be at their wits end, to think they must come to stand before God? to appear at the bar of the everliving, and most mighty jehova, who can cast both body and soul into hell fire? O what secure and careless wretches are we, that are nothing moved with these things, to repent and to turn to God, to leave our foul and filthy sins! And if a poor prisoner condemned should laugh and be merry, would not all men think him to be a madman? And shall not we be worse than madde-men, if we never come to think of these things? If a poor traveler that hath but one penny in his purse, shall come to an Inn, call for all manner of dainties, and never think of the shot; would▪ not all men think him mad, and out of his wits? What madness then is in every one of us all, if in this our pilgrimage, or travail on earth, we spend our days in pleasure; bathe ourselves in sport and pastimes, carking and caring for the things of this world; and never to bethink ourselves, as to say, Alas, what do I now? I eat, I drink, I card, I dice, I take my pleasure, and bathe myself in delight: but woe is me I must come to judgement, I must give my reckoning l I must stand before GOD one day, and there give an account. O that we had hearts to think of this? both young and old, rich and poor, Minister and people, that we must stand bellie-naked before God, that we must give an account of all our sins, to his Majesty: It would bridle us, and keep us from many presumptuous sins which now we commit. The end of the first Sermon. The great Assize. THE SECOND SERMON. REVEL. 20.12. etc. 12 And I saw the dead both small and great stand before God: and the Books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. We have heard already the person of the judge described unto us, with what unspeakable majesty and glory he shall come, to the great comfort of the godly: and also with what wonderful terror he will come, to the great terror of the wicked. Secondly, we have here, who shall be cited to appear: Both great and small: 1. Thes. 1.8 all must appear. Now follows in the third place, the most special and principal matter of all; namely, after what manner all men shall be judged, in these words: And the books were-opened, etc. We see that earthly judges are brought unto the Bench with great attendance. They being set, the prisoners are brought forth, and are called over, one by one; and their matters are heard, and witnesses produced: and so according to their faults they receive judgement. Even so, at this great day of the Lord, Christ jesus shall come with a thousand of Angels; and before him shall stand all men and women, Both great and small: And then shall the Books be brought forth. Indeed we see, when an earthly judge sits on the Bench, it holds a long time to try causes; such witnesses, and such evidences must be produced. But it shall not be so at the last day: for when all men shall stand at the bar of Christ's judgement, they shall then be judged according to the written Records, even according to the Books: for they shall then be opened. Books, wha● is meant by them. Now if you would know what these Books be, it is easy to know: for they be even the particular conscience of every man and woman: thy conscience is the book that shall be opened; and that shall be as good as ten thousand witnesses, either to excuse, or accuse thee before God. For there shall need no other witness, no other evidence against us at the last, but our own conscience. For as God hath his Book of infinite Knowledge, whereby he knoweth the sins of all men and women as certainly as if they were written in a book; and though men forget them, yet the Lord remembreth them: So he hath given unto every man and woman a book, their own conscience; wherein are written all our thoughts, words, and deeds, so as none shall escape. And the Books are two, the Book of the Law, and the Book of Conscience: the one showing a man what he should do, the other what he hath done. Against the book of the Law, none shall be able to except. For the commandments of the Lord are pure and righteous altogether. Psal. 19.9. And as for the book of Conscience, who can deny it, or except against it? seeing the Lord will now judge a man, not by another man's Conscience, but by his own, the which he hath always had in his own keeping, even in his own bosom. Now, seeing here what is meant by these books, namely every man's particular Conscience: let us come to search what be the things written in this book; and first, what use we are to make unto ourselves from this: Every man's book shall be opened, etc. First, in these books are written every thought of our heart: In the Books of our conscience is written, Our 〈…〉. none so secret, or so close, but it is here recorded. Secondly, every speech and word of our mouth. Thirdly, every deed that men do. Thou hast sealed up all our sins in a bag, saith job; to show the exact kind of keeping of them against that day of account. Surely, if there be any thing in a man to be marveled at, I must needs confess that this is a wonderful work of God, that he hath given to every man and woman a Conscience, which is like unto a book; in which is recorded all our thoughts, words and works. A wicked man, an unchaste woman, how many thousand vile & filthy thoughts have they in their minds night and day? their hearts burn in lust and in uncleanness: now they pass away to them, they regard them not, they make little or no account of them. But (alas) they are all written in this Book of thy conscience: thy conscience marks them, thy conscience writes them down. And if thou repent not of them, and leave them, O woe to thy soul, when these Books come to be opened and read over. For than thy conscience will accuse and lay to thy charge, every one of them in order. Thou hast set my misdeeds before me, and my secret sins in the sight of thy countenance, saith David. Again, in the heart of man, what anger, what envy, what malice lurk therein? and they pass it over, and think it no matter. Well, know (beloved) that unless you repent of the very thoughts of the hearts, even these things will be found written in the books at the day of judgement; and what a lamentable thing will that be? 2. Our thoughts. Secondly, as conscience is privy to all our thoughts, and will accuse us of them at the day of judgement: so all our speeches are noted therein. What a number of wicked speeches pass out of the mouth of wicked and vain men and women? what horrible and blasphemous oaths? what cursed speaking, lying, and slandering? Now a wicked person, that thus abuseth his tongue so many thousand times in a day, he cannot for his life remember them. Well, know that every sinful word thou speakest, is written in this book, there it is recorded: and when this Book of thy conscience shall be opened, it will discover all thy sins, not only thy filthy thoughts, but every wicked word. Our Saviour tells us, Mat. 12.36 that we must give an account of every wicked word at the day of ●udgement. For though men labour to forget them, yet they are written in their consciences, & one day shall come to judgement: O how this should awaken us all, and cause us to look unto our lives, to make a covenant with our eyes, as job did; and to set a watch before our mouths, as David did; and to lay aside our vain oaths, and idle mirth, which (as Solomon saith) cannot want iniquity; seeing one day they must all of them come to judgement. 3 Our works. Thirdly, if we come unto the lives of men and women, why (alas) they be nothing almost but a continual practice of sin, as the sins of men's lives they be innumerable, even as the Sands on the Sea shore. Now though men's lives abound with so many thousand sins, yet we see man perceives not, nor knows not one quarter of his sins. It may be he knoweth some; but (alas) they forget the greatest part of them. But yet they be all written in this book of thy Conscience: and they shall all come to judgement. When these Books shall be read, than all thy sins shall be made manifest, though never so secret: for thy Conscience doth mark them all, and pen them down against this day of account. Now seeing what is meant by this book, our Conscience: and likewise what be written in them, even all our thoughts, words and works: let us come to see what use we are to make of this Doctrine first. Hence first of all we may observe the endless love and mercy of our God towards us; foretelling every Use 1 one of us now of the opening of these Books, that our consciences shall be laid open, these Books unclasped, and all our thoughts, words, and works must come to judgement. Surely, it is to this end and purpose, that we might prevent the danger that is to come, and labour to keep a good conscience, washed and purged in the blood of Christ, that it may not lay to our charge any one sin, but assure us that we are in the favour of God. Use 2 Secondly, we see here that it is not enough for a man or a woman, to abstain from evil words and works, but evil thoughts likewise, the very lust of the heart. Paul complains of this: Rom. 7. and Peter bids Simon Magus to repent and pray, Acts 8. if perhaps the thoughts of his heart might be pardoned. I doubt not but the children of God are careful over their very thoughts. For a wicked carnal man may abstain from some grievous sins; But it is a note of the true child of GOD, to repent of his evil thoughts, and to be careful over them. Thirdly, seeing every man's Use 3 conscience is this book, and every man's sin is penned down therein: we may see the woeful misery of all those that have defiled consciences, filthy and unclean hearts. For look how their consciences do accuse them, even so will God condemn. And having not repent of their sins, they carry a tormentor within them; namely, a guilty and an accusing conscience, which is their judge to condemn them, and their hell to torment them. Use 4 Fourthly, seeing the books must be opened, and every man's conscience must come to scanning; because sentence shall pass, and judgement shall be awarded according to the things written in every man's conscience: How should this cause us all, both Minister and people, to labour to get a good conscience? If thy conscience be good, thou shalt not fail to be blessed; if thy conscience be filthy and polluted, thou art accursed: The mean to get a good conscience. And therefore it should be our chiefest care, our chiefest study, and our chiefest desire, all our life time, to keep a good conscience. Now if you ask, how is it possible to get a good conscience? I answer, for the getting and keeping of faith and a good conscience; we must know that it is done by the use of the word of God. joh. 17. Sanctify them by thy Truth, Thy word is the Truth. All graces of God's spirit, are wrought by his word. But that we may get a good conscience, we must First, repent of all our sins: we must know by the Law of God, what is sin, & what is not. Secondly, we must know the heavy curse of GOD even for sin, that the reward of sin is death eternal both of Body and Soul. For men do by nature bless themselves in their sins; and though we hear of God's judgements against sin, yet whose heart is touched and troubled? Thus men run on still in sin, and fear nothing. They mean well they say, but yet live ill, and think all is well. Thirdly, till we see what sin is, and then see the curse of God due to sin, we shall never seriously try our consciences, and see how our sins have wounded them, that so we may repent us of sin. Fourthly, we must be grieved for our sins; we must acknowledge and confess them, begging for pardon of them; and to hunger, and thirst after Christ jesus: For there is nothing that can purify the conscience, and quiet the heart, but only the blood of jesus Christ applied to our souls by Faith, with persuasion of the forgiveness of them. Mark here then (beloved) when a man is thus humbled for his sins, and beggeth the pardon of them earnestly, with sighs and groans; then will the Lord send down into his soul, his blessed Spirit; to assure us of god's mercy, of the pardon of our sins, that our wounds in conscience are healed, and this is done by the means of Faith, Acts 15.9 which purifies the conscience. Hereby we may perceive, Use that most men and women, are in a woeful case. For (alas) the greatest part are ignorant of the law of God, and know not what is sin, and what is not sin, and therefore cannot possible have a good Conscience; For, Hebr. 11. whatsoever is not of faith, is sin. Again, though men see their sins, and oftentimes their conscience checks them for sins, yet how few do bewail their sins? for I am persuaded that there is not so wicked a sinner, but sometimes his conscience checks him. Indeed men see not the danger, and feel not the wounds of conscience, because now their Books be clasped, they be shut up, their seared Consciences be now asleep: But the day will come that their Books must be opened, and their secrets declared; and then conscience will accuse them, condemn, and torment them. Again, when a man or woman hath gotten a good conscience, so as being truly humbled for their sins, and begging pardon, they find some assurance of GOD'S love in Christ, and that now their consciences do not accuse them; even than must men take no less pains to keep and preserve a good conscience, to do nothing to wound thy Conscience. A man's Conscience is a very tender thing. The means to keep our conscience pure. It is like the apple of the eye; if it be pricked but with a pin, it will not only blemish the eye, but endanger the sight: So conscience, it is a tender thing, if ye prick it by sin, it will blemish thy conscience, wound it, and even make havoc of thy soul. And therefore saith Solomon, Counterguard thy heart, & watch over thy soul, Proverbs 4.14. that thou do nothing that may wound thy conscience. Now, that we may keep these books of account, (our consciences) pure and good, we must do two things. First, avoid all things that may any way hurt a good conscience. Secondly, use all good means and helps to cherish a good conscience. In truth all sin hinders a good conscience. Sin is that which wounds the Soul, and maketh havoc of a good conscience: that is the very cut-throat of men's souls. And therefore, if you would keep a good conscience, take heed of sin, which wounds a good conscience, and makes it unable to stand before God at the last day. But there be two especial lets and impediments of a good Conscience: First, ignorance of the Law, and the word of God. For when a man knows not what is sin, and what not; how can he take heed lest he wound his Soul? And therefore we see, let a man come into his House at Midnight, he can see nothing amiss, and out of order; but let a man come in at Noon, than he can espy the least disorder: even so poor, blind, ignorant souls, not knowing the Law of God, cannot see any wounds in conscience, nor nothing amiss in them. But let them come to the word of God, and look in this Glass, than they shall find themselves much out of order; to have wounded souls, and defiled consciences. The other impediment of a good conscience is worldly lust; namely, the love and exceeding desire of riches, honours, pleasures, etc. And he that suffers these desires to have place in his heart, he cannot possible keep a good conscience. Secondly, the means to preserve and to keep a good conscience be three. First, to do all things that may save and cherish true saving faith, whereby our souls be assured of the love of GOD in Christ jesus for the pardon of our sins. For Faith is the root, and the foundation of a good conscience; and without faith there can be no good conscience. Rom. 10. Now to preserve Faith, we must often hear and read the word of God, repent of our sins, acknowledge and confess them, and be humbled for them, and walk in the duties of faith and repentance: And in so doing, we shall find more and more the comfort of a good conscience. And therefore we must take heed we do nothing to break off the feeling of God's love, or to wound our conscience. Secondly, we must endeavour in all things to obey God's will, and bear a constant purpose, not to sin in any thing. For, a purpose to live in sin, and conscience, cannot stand together: so that where there is a purpose to live in sin, there is neither faith, nor a good conscience. Thirdly, we must walk with God, as Henoch did, so to order our lives, as always in the presence of GOD; and this will make us keep a good Conscience: and the want of this maketh men bold to sin, because they consider not that GOD seethe them, and that they have a conscience within them. And another Book was opened, which is the Book of Life. THus when Christ hath examined the Books of men's Consciences, to view what is therein written, that judgement may be awarded thereafter. Now he showeth that he will open a second Book, even the Book of Life, What is meant by the book of Life. And of this book of Life, we shall see often mention in the word of God, both in the old and new Testament; as that of Moses: Exodus 32.31.32. Oh this people have grievously sinned! Therefore now if thou pardon their sin, thy mercy shall appear: But if thou wilt not, I pray thee raze me out of the Book which thou hast written. Psal. 69.28 Again, Let them be put out of the Book of Life, neither let them be written with the righteous. Revel. 3.5. Again, He that overcometh shall be clothed in white array, and I will not put out his name out of the Book of Life. And the holyghost speaking of the glory of the heavenly jerusalem saith; Reu. 21.27 There shall enter into it no unclean thing, neither whatsoever worketh abomination or lies: Phil. 4.3. But they which are written in the lambs Book of Life. Now if you would know what is here meant by the Book of Life, it is the Book in the which all the names of God's Elect, which in his eternal purpose he hath chosen, be written, as it were, with Letters of Gold; and it is nothing else but GOD'S eternal council, purpose, and decree, wherein he hath elected and chosen a certain company of mankind, to bestow eternal life upon them: for we must not think that God hath any need of a Book; but only for our understanding he speaketh thus: Even as a Captain records the names of his Soldiers, to call them one by one; and as in Cities the names of the chief men be recorded: So God hath as it were, enroled the names of all his Saints, and engraven them in the book of Life, with letters of gold for ever, so as not one of them shall perish. Thus seeing what is meant by the Book of Life, let us see what we may learn hence. Use 1 First, hence we may see the blessed and happy estate of all the elect and chosen children of God. For all those which be written in the book of life, they be blessed and happy for ever. Revel. 3.5. If thy name be written in the Book of Life, thou shalt never perish. Christ will not blot out thy name out of the Book of life, but acknowledge thy name to be in his Book at the latter day, to thine endless joy and comfort. Whom GOD loves once, Rom. 11. he loveth to the end. But woeful and wretched are those which are not written in this book: for all these shall be shut out of heaven, whose names are not in the Book of the living; but in the black Bill, Reu. 21.27 the Book of death. But here we must take heed of the carnal reasoning of wicked men and women. Many there be who reason thus: If I be the child of God, and written in the Book of Life, let me live as my lust, I am sure to be saved. Others say, If I be a reprobate, and not written in the Book of Life, why I am sure I shall be damned, although I live never so well. Poor souls, they know not what they say: they speak flat contrary. For if God have elected any man or woman to eternal life, he hath ordained that they should walk in the way to eternal life. And it is impossible that they should run on in sin, and live and die therein. And therefore if men thus reason, they do even cast away their own souls. But let all men know, that as GOD hath ordained some men to eternal life, Rom. 8.30. and written their names in heaven; so he hath appointed them the means to walk in, to bring them thereunto. Use 2 Secondly, we are taught here, that the Lord hath a Book of Life, wherein all the names of th'Elect be written: we see hence what must be our chiefest joy and comfort, even this, To know assuredly that our names are written in this Book of Life. This Christ himself will teach us in that speech of his unto his Disciples, which rejoiced so; because the Devils were subdued under them, and cast out by them: Nay rather (saith our Saviour) Rejoice that your names are written in the Book of Life: But (alas) what do most men and women rejoice in? To be the son of a rich man, a gentleman, or nobleman; to have gold and silver, lands and livings: This makes men to bear themselves aloft. But who is he that rejoiceth in this? That he is the son of God, that his name is written in the Book of Life? Well, thus having observed from the word of God, what is meant by this Book of Life; namely, the eternal decree of God's election; here-hence cometh two weighty points to be considered of us: First, whether it be possible for the child of God to know whether his name be written in the Book of Life, or no. Secondly, if it be possible, then by what means we may attain to this knowledge, to be assured that our names be in Heaven: that we are in the number of those that shall be saved. And these are two most necessary & fruitful points to be known of all Christians. Whether it be possible for the child of God to know whether his name be written in this book of Life. Concerning the first point, whether it be possible for the child of God to know whether his name be written in the book of Life, or not. The Church of Rome holds, That no man can certainly know whether he be the child of God, or no. Nay, they condemn this as a foul fault, and bold presumption, for any man to be certainly persuaded of this, That he is the child of God, elected in Christ jesus; and that his name is written in the Book of Life. They say, we are to hope well, etc. But (alas) shall we venture the salvation of our souls upon an uncertain hope? No, we must go further, and labour to be assured, and certainly persuaded of this, That our Names are written in the book of Life: and that a true Christian, man or woman, may assuredly be persuaded, & certainly know, that he is the child of God, it is out of question, if we will believe the holy-ghost. Else why should S. Peter will us to give all diligence to make our Election sure? 2 Pet. 1.10 job 19 Rom. 8.16. Luke 10. And why did our Saviour bid his Disciples Rejoice that their Names were written in the book of Life, if they could not know it? Again, every Article of our Christian faith doth confirm the truth of this Doctrine; where we are taught to believe the Catholic Church; and that we are of the number of God's people. We believe the pardon of our sins, and that we shall have life everlasting. Now than you see how little we are beholden to the Church of Rome, who hold, that we may not be certainly persuaded of our salvation; but must only hope well. Did not job know it? Did not Paul know it? job 19 Rom. 8.38 Then let no man doubt of this, but the children of God may, and do know it, that they shallbe saved. And therefore let us believe this doctrine, and embrace it: And withal, let us abhor the doctrine of the Church of Rome, which is contrary to the Gospel of jesus Christ. For what comfort can any Christian have, till he know that he is the child of God? How should we dare to call upon God? How can we be at peace in our Souls? With what comfort can we perform obedience unto GOD, except we find this blessed persuasion, that our names are in this book; and that we be the Elect and chosen of God? Secondly, now the next question is, How any man or woman may come to this certain knowledge, whether his name be written in this Book, whether he be the child of God, or not? And this you see is a matter of no small moment, but a most weighty matter, and concerns our souls very narrowly; and therefore let us be careful to listen unto it, that we be able to prove ourselves, whether we be in the faith, or not, whether we be the sons of God, or nor; and so whether we shall be saved, or not. O, it is matter of endless comfort to God's children, when they know this, that they be the children of God; and that eternal Life belongs unto them, it will stir them up to obey GOD with joy and cheerfulness, in all his Commandments. By what means we may come unto this knowledge. Now there be two ways to know it; One is by ascending into heaven, into the privy council of God. But this is a dangerous way, and not to be attempted of any man, because Secret things belong to God: Exod. 29. but things revealed to us, and our children: And his ways are past finding out. And therefore this way no man must dare to assay. Besides this, there is yet an other way to know whether our names be written in the Book of life; and that is by descending into ourselves; and by certain marks and testimonies in our own hearts, to prove that we are in the number of Gods Elect. For as Solomon saith, Pro. 27.19 As water showeth face to face: Even so the heart showeth man to man. Even as a glass showeth what a man's face is: so will a man's heart and conscience show what man is in the sight of God. Then, if you would now know whether your names be written in the Book of Life; that is, whether you be the elect of God, and heirs of eternal Life; you must now enter into your own souls, 2 Cor. 13 prove yourselves, and you shall certainly know whether you shall be saved or damned. For if thou find in thee the true marks and notes of God's children, thou needest not fear but that thy name is in this Book, and thou shalt certainly be saved. But as for wicked and profane men and women, that make no conscience of sin, they shall in spite of their teeth, upon this examination, sing the doleful tune, I am a damned sinner, I know not what will become of my poor soul at the day of judgement: And therefore that we might in some measure try ourselves, and judge whether we be in this book, and so shall be saved; let us search out of the holy word of God, some certain marks of God's children. The first mark whereby we may know whether we be elect or not, is the inward testimony and witness of God's spirit, Rom. 8.15 Ye have not received the spirit of bondage to fear again; but ye have, etc. Whereby Saint Paul tells us, that wicked and ungodly sinners, which have not the spirit of God to guide them, but live in sin; they have only the spirit of Bondage, they have no true peace in their souls: but they that be the children of God, have the Spirit of Adoption, who seals unto our hearts the assurance of our adoption, and election, and doth make it known unto us, that we are the Sons of God: For his Spirit doth witness to our spirits, that we are the Sons of God, Romans 8.16. And, that no man might deceive himself, and think he hath the testimony of GOD'S Spirit, when he hath it not: Saint Paul giveth us two most excellent notes, to know whether we have the testimony of GOD'S Spirit, yea, or not. It maketh us cry, Abba, Father. Where the Spirit of God doth witness to any man's soul that he is the child of God; It will make him cry to God, and even fill heaven and earth, with crying and tears, with sobs and sighs for the pardon of his sins. And he which hath not this in him, that he cannot cry unto GOD for pardon of his sins; this man can not truly assure himself that he is the Child of God. And though men say, they hope to be saved, yet (alas) they seldom or never pray unto God for the pardon of their sins. Secondly, if we find the testimony of GOD'S Spirit, that we are the children of God; It will make us, not only, to be earnest with God for pardon of our sins, but it will make us cry, Abba, Father, that is, it will make us bear the tender affection of a dutiful child, so as we shall be afraid to offend so loving a Father. And therefore all those which delight in sin, and are not afraid to offend GOD: Surely, they can find no assurance, that they be the children of God. And therefore, if you desire to be assured that the names be in this Book; labour to find this testimony of God's Spirit, to witness unto your Souls, that you belong unto God, and labour to be earnest in prayer unto God, for that is a special work of God's Spirit. 1. Cor. 2.12 The second means whereby we may know, whether our names be written in the Book of Life; is by the word of God. For, the word of God tells us, whosoever believeth in Christ jesus, shall be saved. But the child of God hearing this promise opened and applied, by the ministery of God's word, is able to say, I believe; and am able to apply this promise to myself: For no man hath faith, but he knoweth that he hath it, and therefore can say, seeing I believe with all my heart, surely I know I shall be saved. Thirdly, besides the blessed testimony of God's Spirit, which cannot deceive, and the witness of the word of GOD; we may know our election by the fruits, and effects thereof. As we say a man is alive, so long as we see him breath; and can judge of the Tree by the fruits: Even so, by the effects of Election, we may know whether our names be in the Book of Life, or not. Now the fruits of Election be set down by the holyghost, that all men might be able to examine and try themselves, and know whether they be ordained to Life, or not: Whom GOD predestinated, Rom. 8.30 them also he Called, and whom he Called, them also he justified, and whom he justified, them also he Glorified. Where we may behold the marks of our Election. For all that be elected to Life Eternal, and be written in this Book; they are first called; secondly justified; and thirdly, sanctified. So then, if you would know whether you be elected to life, look to these three effects of Election. Art thou Called? art thou justified? art thou sanctified? Then sure thou art Elected: But if thou hast not these three, then canst thou not assure thyself of thy salvation. So then, the first fruit of our Election is our effectual Calling, when as God doth, by the Preaching of the Gospel, call us out of the world; from our old sins, to be of the number of his people, to live as his children. Again, when a man cometh to the preaching of the Word, to see his sins, and God's anger for them; dislikes them, is grieved for them, bewails them, and begs the pardon for them, and begins to become a new man; to believe in Christ jesus, to seek after God's Kingdom: He which findeth this effectual calling in him, he may assure his Soul, that he is Predestinated to Eternal Life. But we must take heed that we deceive not ourselves with an outward calling, for our Saviour saith; Mat. 22. Many are called, but few are chosen. Many do hear the word of God with the ear: but we must labour to find the Spirit of God to preach unto our Souls; to apply the Word to our conscience, to believe it, and to obey it. And therefore, they which live in their old sins, as blind, ignorant, and profane, as ever before; (alas) how can they think to be saved? seeing God chooses none, or saves not any, but whom he calls effectually by the Gospel, 2 Thess. 2.13. and severs from the rest of the world. Secondly, the fruit of Election is justification: For whom he predestinated, them he called: So then here is an other token and mark, to know whether we be Elected, namely, or justified. Now, this is an especial grace of God, to justify a poor sinner that must be saved. And whosoever is not justified, cannot be saved. justification hath two parts. First, the pardon of sin: secondly, the imputation of Christ's righteousness; For that, before a man can be justified, he must repent him of his sins, know them, hate them, and beg the pardon of them; and than Christ jesus will assure us of the pardon of them. And therefore, if we would know whether we be justified, or not, we must look whether we have truly repent, yea and have been truly humbled for our sins, and got the pardon of them all. Secondly, that we may be truly justified, we must have a true faith in Christ jesus; to lay hold upon him, to be persuaded and assured in our souls, that Christ died for me, shed his Blood for me, obeyed the Law for me, and will cover all my sins in his Righteousness. So then, mark the conclusion; where there is repentance, there is Remission of sins; where there is remission of sins, there is justification; and where there is justification, there is salvation. And on the contrary parts; where there is no repentance, there is no remission of sins; where there is no remission of sins, there is no justification; and where there is no justification, there is no salvation. O then what shall become of those that live in sin, delight in sin, and never (as yet) could shed one tear for their manifold and grievous sins? They can not find themselves to be justified; they can have no pardon of their sins, so long as they live in sin. And therefore if you would know whether you shall be saved, or not: labour first of all to repent, and to lay hold on Christ by Faith, that so he may cover your sins in his Blood. Thirdly, fruit of Election is sanctified. And this is a special mark of God's child, 2 The. 2.13 to be regenerate, to be sanctified. Now Sanctification standeth in two parts: first, they must die unto sin: secondly, they must rise to righteousness. And would you know then assuredly, whether your names are written in the Book of Life? Look unto your souls. If you find that you are sanctified, if you hate your old sins, and filthy ways; if you love Virtues, and delight in all holy duties; than it is a certain token that ye belong unto God. Rom. 8.1. For there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ. But if you do savour the things of the flesh; lying in the old sins, Drunkenness, etc. why then certainly, you have no assurance of salvation, that you can be saved: But you must needs sing this doleful Song, I know not what shall become of my poor Soul, whether I shall be saved or damned. Nay, if thou live in sin, thou mayst justly fear that thou art a firebrand of hell: For, He that is borne of God, sinneth not: 1. joh. 5.18. And, Let every one that calls on the name of the Lord, depart from iniquity, 2. Tim. 2. Thus to die to sin, and to live to righteousness, is a sure token that we belong to God. Thus you see, how a man may come to know, whether he be elected, and ordained to Life, or not. Now let us see what use ariseth hence. Seeing God hath his Book Use 1 of Life, in which be written the names of all those that shall be saved, and none of them shall perish: hence cometh endless comfort to all God's children: If thou find that thou art the child of God, and thy name is written in Heaven, nothing can hurt thee, though thou be poor, sick, full of sores, in prison, hated, contemned; yet nothing can hurt thee. Nay, all the gates of Hell can not prevail against thee: no damnation can come unto thee. For if God do justify, who can condemn? for at the day of judgement, Christ jesus will take his Book of Life, and call us, saying; Come ye blessed: So as we shall not come to a terrible judgement, but to a loving Saviour. Secondly, seeing that it is so excellent a thing to have our names written in this Book; to be the Elect child of God; we should labour for this above all things in the world; for without this, we can have no sound comfort, either in life or death. And therefore our Saviour bids us in the tenth of Luke, not to boast ourselves of Learning, of Wisdom, of Riches: whereas these are but vain things; but to rejoice that our names be written in heaven. Thirdly, seeing God hath a Book of Life, and hath written down the very names of every man and woman, that shall be saved; and hath withal showed us the way that leads unto Life; and unless we walk in this way, we can not come unto it: It is our wisdom to walk in the way that leads to Life, in the practice of Godliness. We are Vessels of Honour, and therefore must live soberly, justly, and godly, in this present world. Not to serve sin, and Satan any longer: But as the redeemed of the Lord, to walk from strength to strength, from virtue to virtue, from one degree of Perfection to an other: till at length we appear before the Lord, and there to reap the happy reward; even the full fruition of all happiness, and that for evermore. The end of the second Sermon. The great Assize. THE THIRD SERMON. REV. 20.12.13. And the dead were judged of those things which were written in the Books, according to their works. 13 And the Sea gave up her dead which were in her: and Death and Hell delivered up the dead which were in them, and they were judged every man according to their works. COncerning the Book of Life, we have heard already what is meant by it; namely, the Council and Decree of GOD'S Election, whereby he hath chosen certain men and women from out of the lump of Mankind, upon whom he will bestow Eternal Life. Secondly, we have learned that a man may; nay every Christian man and woman ought to be assured, that his name is written in it. Thirdly, we did set down some means out of the word of God, Rom. 8.16 whereby a true Christian may be assured he is elected; namely, 1. Cor. 2 First, the testimony of God's Spirit, which cannot lie. Secondly, by the fruits and effects of Election; as Vocation, justification, Sanctification, love of the Brethren, 1 joh. 3.14. and obedience unto all the Commandments of God. And therefore it stands us all in hand to labour for this assurance of Election, else we cannot be saved, Luke 10.20. and without it, we can have no true joy unto our souls. Surely, mens carelessness in this point is great: Nay, their care to make their Lands and Leases sure, will be a means to condemn them for their want of care in this point. Now Saint john proceedeth in the Description of this last judgement, After what manner all men shall be judged even as it was declared unto him by the Lord jesus Christ himself in a Vision; and showeth after what manner we shallbe all judged, Even according to those things written in the Book, according unto our works. You have heard before, that he saw all, both great and small, stand before God; none shall be wanting, or absent themselves. Now it might be wondered how this great multitude shall be judged; how every man's Book should be read, and every man's cause should be tried. For we see what a long time it holds our judges here to try a few persons; such calling for Evidences, such proving of witnesses, such preferring of Inditements. But Saint john saith, It shall not be so here, for all must proceed according to the written Records: And according to these things which be written in the Book: So as when Christ jesus the great judge, shall once sit upon the Throne of his Glory, attended by his holy Angels; then shall the Books of every man's conscience be opened, and then they shall afresh call to mind all their sins. In these words we are to observe three special points. Parts of the Text. First, who they are that must come to this judgement; namely, the dead, even they which have lain many thousand years rotten in the grave. Secondly, the means whereby they must be tried; even by those things which be written and recorded in their Books. Thirdly, the Touchstone of this trial; namely, the written word of God. And first of the persons. It is not to be doubted but that Saint john meaneth that all must come to judgement, Both great and small must stand before God. But why doth he say here, And the dead shall be judged? It is to be observed that he names so expressly the dead, even those which have lain rotting so many thousand years, must come to judgement; they must be called to account; yea, their old sins must be now brought to light. For this is the wicked thoughts of many carnal men, that when a man is dead, he is well; then all his sins die with him, he is forgotten, and his sins are not spoken of. But Saint john saith here, that even the dead must come to judgement; even their old sins must come to light, and they must answer for them. It is nigh six thousand years since Cain slew his brother, yet this sin of his is not forgotten; though Cain be dead so long since, yet his sins are not dead. No, no, Cain one day shall come to account for his sin. judas, he did for vile lucre sell his Master many hundreds of years ago; he is dead and gone: but at this day he shall be called to account. So in our days, many men think, when they die, their sins shall never be brought to light. The Usurer, he getteth his goods by wicked and ungodly means, he groweth in wealth; when he dieth, he thinks he shall never hear of this sin again: So the Drunkard, Swearer, Profaner of the Lords Sabbath, etc. they are persuaded, that death will end all their misery. Ah (poor souls) it were well with them indeed, if death might end their woeful misery: But alas, alas, death is even as a wide Gate, to let them have some passage to endless woe, and misery. For when they be dead and buried, their sins do not die with them, their misery is not then ended: O no, then gins their endless misery & torment: Oh it were good they might have no more being after death. It had been good for such men, they had never been borne; or being borne, that they had been made rather a Toad, or a Serpent; for in death they have an end. But it is not so with a filthy and and ungodly sinner. For when he is dead and buried, even than begins his greatest woe and misery: for even the sinner that is dead a many thousand years, must for all this come to judgement. And therefore thou that livest in sin, in adultery, etc. remember, that although thou die, yet thy sins do not die with thee: No, no, both thou and they must one day come to judgement: thy old sins, and those which thou hast committed in secret, they must come now to light. Seeing that the dead must come to judgement, Use that have lain a many hundred years in the grave, and then their old sins, and secret sins, must come to light: Oh let us then watch over our lives, and have this still in our minds. Well, though I die and rot in the Grave, yet my sins shall not die, my evil ways cannot be buried, they must come to light, that so we may never dare to sin; thinking as many do, that when they be once dead, they shall never come to account for their sins. But Saint john saith here, that the dead were judged, even those whom we forgot, and whose sins we would think would never be called to account, even they must come to a reckoning. In the next place, Saint john tells us, how all men shall be tried, and according to what, Sentence shall be awarded; Namely, according to those things Written in their Books. Hear is the Evidence, here is no witness to be produced; for a man's conscience shall be even as good as a thousand witnesses. Now, what is here meant by the books you have heard already; namely, the particular Conscience of every man and woman. Thy conscience is the Book; that is, the Evidence: No other witness shall be produced, but even thy own conscience. Again, the things which be written in these Books, I told you they be all our thoughts, words, and works; not only our gross sins, as murder, etc. but in our Books be recorded even our idle and vain words, every vile and filthy thought; and by these Sentence must proceed; and according to these must judgement be awarded. Now then, those which have good thoughts, yea and holy things written in their Books, they be blessed and happy; for they shall not be ashamed: nay, they shall be glad to have their Books laid open, that their repentance, their faith, love, zeal and patience, etc. might be known, and come to light. But woe then to all filthy sinners, adulterers, etc. For the reward of these sins, is death, the wrath and curse of God for ever. Use Seeing that here is the Evidence, and by the things written in our Books in our consciences, we must be arraigned; and seeing in our Books be recorded all that we do, all our words, thoughts, and deeds: First, it must teach us above all things, to look to our Books, our consciences, to keep them very fair and clean; that our Books of Accounts be in a readiness: For our consciences shall either excuse or accuse us at the day of judgement. Acts 24. This was the care of the blessed Apostle saint Paul Acts 24 in regard of this, that we must all come unto judgement, and our consciences must be laid open, and we judged according to the things therein recorded; it made this holy servant of God to take all possible pains to keep a clear conscience before GOD and man. O that we could imitate this blessed Apostle, that seeing we must all come unto judgement, seeing our Books, even our consciences must be opened and disclosed, and we receive sentence of salvation or damnation, according to the things written in our Books; yea that we could labour and endeavour, that no filthy sin might blot our Books, but that we could keep them clear and fair, in the sight of GOD: It ought to persuade us all, above all things in the world, to look unto this, to keep our Books fair. For if our consciences do accuse us, GOD is greater than our conscience, and doth know all things. Secondly, seeing sentence must pass according unto the things written in our Books, and these be not only the gross sins of the world themselves, but even the vile and unclean thoughts of our hearts; even these must come to judgement: then let us all be careful to avoid, not only the outward actions themselves, but even these unclean thoughts of ours: for even they must come unto judgement. Alas, men think, thought is free, that they shall never be arraigned for their vile and ungodly thoughts. But S. Paul saith, Rom. 2.1. Thoughts shall either excuse, or accuse us. And whosoever doth truly repent, they do repent even of their vile and ungodly thoughts: for if we had no other sins written in the Books of our conscience, but even our sinful thoughts; even they were enough to condemn us both body and soul for evermore. Neither may we content ourselves, to think we are in good case, if we can say, I am no Drunkard, no Fornicator, etc. No, look to thy Book, that there be not so much as an idle word written there: For even they must come to judgement, as our Saviour saith, I say unto you, That for every idle word men shall give an account at the day of judgement. And that we might know in particular what is written in our Books, Saint john saith, That we shall be judged according to our works. So it is, 2. Cor. 5.10. We must all appear before the judgement Seat of Christ, that every man may receive the things which are done in his body, Revel. 2.8. Mat. 25.41 Reu. 14.13 according to that he hath done, whether it be good or evil. We shallbe judged, and receive reward according to our works. If thy works be good, than life, glory, and salvation; But if thy works be evil, than death, destruction, and damnation. Good works, although they cannot merit, yet they will show that faith that lay in the heart. So when an evil man dies, his evil works go with him, his galled conscience will not leave him, neither in life nor death. Doct. Hence than we see, how all men and women shall be tried at this dreadful day, even by our works; either they shallbe acquitted and absolved, or else condemned by their works. For though no man can merit life and salvation at the hands of God, by his works: yet we must know that judgement shall proceed at the last day according unto men's works. If thy works have been good, holy, just, and pure: then thou shalt receive life, happiness, glory, salvation. But if thy works be found to be wicked, unjust, and ungodly: then nothing else but death, hell, and damnation belongs unto thee for them. Well, what should this reach? Use. Seeing we must all receive Sentence, even according to our works, Surely, it ought to move us above all things in the world, to labour to abound in good works: to abound in all holy duties, and graces of God's Spirit; in knowledge, faith, repentance, love, zeal; clothing, feeding, and lodging the poor members of Christ jesus: For according to our works shall our reward be. And though our works can merit nothing at the hands of the judge; yet he being a most bountiful and merciful Saviour, he will crown his own works in us, and reward them in his mercy, though we merit nothing. Dost thou relieve a poor member of JESUS CHRIST? Dost thou give a cup of cold water to a Prophet, or a Minister of the word of GOD? CHRIST doth promise thee of his truth, he will not let thee loose thy reward. True it is, a cup of cold water is a mean gift, and far from merit; yet Christ saith, Verily, of my truth, thou shalt not lose thy reward. Math. 10. O how should this persuade all of us to labour to abound in all holy duties? to be liberal, and bountiful unto the poor members of Christ jesus? seeing our good works, though they cannot merit, yet they shall be rewarded, they shall not be forgotten in the day of judgement: they be sweet and blessed companions; when all our friends can do us no good, they will bring endless peace and comfort to our Souls. Again, it ought to terrify us all from sin, from evil works, and ungodly ways, from swearing, drunkenness, uncleaneness, and every evil way. For if we be full of these, and these be found written in our Books, O then woe unto us, when these Books shall come to be opened: for than nothing but death, hell and damnation belongs unto us. Hear we see, that of all we Doctr. 2 have and enjoy in this world: what shall go with us when we die? what shall accompany thee in the grave? Nay, at the terrible day of judgement, our consciences, our works, and our books, nothing else shall go with us. When thou diest, thou shalt not take any thing in the world with thee, but thy works, which be engraven in the book of thy conscience: Death will bar all the rest: Thou canst not take thy Gold and Silver with thee, nor thy lands, or livings, corn, nor cattle: All these must stay behind thee at what time thou diest; only thy Conscience, thy Book, thy Works must go with thee. If they be good, Oh blessed art thou that ever thou wast borne: If they be wicked, filthy and unclean: Oh woe, and ten thousand woes, I say, to thy soul for evermore. O then, Use. what wonderful madness hath bewitched the hearts and souls of almost all men and women in the world? What do men desire? what do they hunger and thirst after? Surely, for pleasures, for profit, and for preferments. For these they ride & run night and day, winter and summer, by sea and by land; for these they spend all their labour, wit, and strength. Hear is all that men desire; they care for no more. No account of Prayer in their Houses, to read, to hear, and to speak of the word of God: no desire to attain to Knowledge, Faith, and Repentance: no conscience to live in the fear of God: little or no pity to the needy members of Christ jesus. Alas they never think of these things: But all their desire is for the World. Oh poor blind Souls, poor Souls, they know not, or they will not know, that they must leave all these behind them; they must departed from them all. Thou canst not take one piece of gold or silver with thee; but all must be left behind: Only thy conscience, only thy books, only thy works, must accompany thee. O then what madness is this, to seek, and hunt, after such things as cannot help us, nor stand us in no stead in the day of judgement? Nay, if they be got, or kept with a bad conscience, they will be a very terror unto thee at the last. O then, let us look to ourselves; let us not set our hearts too much upon these things, which cannot profit us, in this hot fiery day of trial. Why should we be so foolish to set our hearts upon that cannot help us; nay, which we must leave behind us. And for faith, that which might be our comfort, both in life and death, and in the dreadful day of judgement; I mean a good Conscience, which, as it is a blessed and a sweet companion in life and death; so it will be a blessed comfort to our poor Souls at the day of judgement. O than I beseech you again, and again, seeing that nothing shall go with you unto judgement, but only your works; let us lay aside our immoderate care for the world, yea and the things of this world; for these must stay behind us, and cannot help us in the day of judgement. Let us labour for better things, for durable treasures, for a good conscience, to abound in good works, in knowledge, faith, and repentance: Let us take heed we be not found naked of these. O what a woeful case are they in, that have nothing in the world to go with them to judgement, but an evil heart, a galled conscience, full of all uncleaneness; their state is most woeful and miserable; it had been good for them that they had never been borne. Here may a question be moved, How this saying of Saint john, can stand with that of our Saviour, john 3.18. He that believeth, shall not come into judgement, but he that believeth not, is condemned already. Now then, if the faithful children of God shall not come into judgement, and the wicked unbelievers be condemned already; How saith he, that all shallbe judged at the day of judgement? I answer, it is true, that the faithful children of God shall not come into judgement, that is, of condemnation: Rom. 8.1. For there is no condemnation, etc. But God will pronounce that blessed sentence, Come ye blessed, etc. As for the wicked, it is true, they be condemned already: first, in the Decree and Council of God, being Reprobates and Castaways: secondly, in the word of GOD: thirdly, in their own conscience, they be condemned already. But the full manifestation of this Sentence shall not be until the day of judgement. And so we are to understand that saying of Solomon, Eccles. 3. God shall judge the just and unjust: The just, to salvation; the unjust, to condemnation. Now the third point that I propounded, is the touchstone of this Trial, whereby all men's thoughts, words, and works shall be tried. To this S. Paul answereth; At the day of judgement God shall judge the secrets of all men's hearts by my Gospel, Rom. 1.16. Our thoughts, our words and our works, must be tried by the word of God; and that thought, word, or work, which is not according to the written Word of GOD, is an evil thought, a vile word, and a wicked work. Use. Seeing that all our thoughts, words, and works, must be tried, and examined, by the written word of God, by the Law, and by the Gospel, we have need to labour to know them, to be acquainted with them, that we might know what is sin, and not sin; good and bad, that so we may leave the one, and do the other. Oh what a woeful case are all they in, which are ignorant in the word of God: blind men and women without knowledge; they know not what is good or evil. And therefore saith the Apostle Paul 2. Thess. 1. That the Lord jesus will come in a flame of fire, to render vengeance to them which know him not, and obey not the Gospel of jesus Christ. And therefore, as you do love your souls, love this word of God; labour to know it, embrace it: If thou be ignorant of it, and yield not obedience unto it, it shall stand against thee at the day of judgement, and thou must be tried by it. Therefore let us all labour to be instructed in it, to read it, to remember it, and to lead our lives by it: For whatsoever is done contrary to it, is sin; it must come to judgement, and the Word will condemn it. 13 And the sea gave up her dead which were in her: and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them, and they were judged every man according to their works. YOU heard in the twelfth Verse, immediately going before, how Saint john saw the dead, both great and small, stand before GOD; that is, all men and women, that ever lived, or shall live, unto the end of the world. Now here might a question arise, How this can be; How is it possible that all men should come to judgement? There have been many thousands which have been drowned in the Sea, and the fishes have devoured them; some have been slain in the field, and the fowls have eaten their flesh, and many have been burnt, and consumed to ashes. Then it is a very high point, a matter beyond all reason, that all the dead should rise again. Men that have been drowned, fishes have eaten them; & men again perhaps have eaten the fishes; and they that have been burnt to ashes, their ashes have been scattered, who knoweth whither? How then is it possible for them to arise again? Indeed the profane Atheists and filthy epicures, are not ashamed ●o say, that there shall be no resurrection, but when a man dies there is an end of all his joy, and of all his misery. But, that the dead shall rise again, is an Article of our Faith, We believe the resurrection of the dead: And so we know it is a special point of God's glory, in mercy to reward his poor children; and in punishing in judgement, the wicked and ungodly. But, as Solomon saith, In this Life all things happen alike, to the just and unjust: Nay, oftentimes, Dives is full, and at ease, when Lazarus is empty, and in misery. How then should God be just, if he should suffer his poor children, that love and fear his Name, here to live in misery, and never to reward them? Or again, how should God be just, if he should suffer the wicked and ungodly, here to live at ease, if there were not a time when they should taste of vengeance? Therefore they must come to judgement, they must rise again, the godly to be made partakers of life, and joy; and the wicked, of shame and confusion: job saith in his nineteenth chapter, That though the worms did eat his flesh, yet he should behold God with his eyes: And Saint Paul doth prove this with many reasons: 1 Cor. 15. If the dead rise not again, then is not Christ risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our Preaching vain, etc. And why should we think it impossible for God to raise our bodies out of the dust? We see a poor ignorant man is able of Ashes, to make a very beautiful Glass. How much more than is the everliving, and almighty God, able to raise our bodies out of the dust? But you will say, are men's bodies eaten of fishes, men eat them again? How is it possible to save the bodies of men, thus consumed to dust, and mingled with the bodies of fishes and of beasts? I answer, that though it be impossible to men, yet it is not impossible to God: For he that created all our bodies of nothing, can make them again of something; namely, of their own matter; and to sever their bodies from all other matters: As we see that a Goldsmith can sever one matter from another. So then this place doth prove and confirm that Article of our faith, that we believe the Resurrection of the dead. For howsoever a man dieth, by Sea, or by Land, in his bed, or in the field; Saint john saith here, the Sea shall give up all that have been drowned; death and hell, that is, the Grave shall deliver the dead in them; so as all must come to judgement, of what death soever they die. O then see (beloved) how the devil bewitcheth many a poor ignorant soul. Use. When he is in misery, in great distress, and calamity, the Devil he persuadeth him to become his own executioner, to end his misery, and to end his shame, by hanging himself, cutting his own throat, drowning himself, etc. And we know, and hear, that he prevaileth much by these means in these days: Some being in disgrace, as Achitophel; some with the guilt of sin, and of conscience, as judas; and some being crossed with wife and children, cut their throats, or otherwise make an end of themselves. Now, they foolishly think, by this means, to end their grief: Alas, alas, they do by this means, even hasten their own destruction: And do, as if a man should (to avoid a little smoke) cast himself headlong into a flaming fire: So they, to avoid this little grief of their body, plunge body and soul into eternal torments. For, what ease is it for a man to kill himself, or cast away himself, seeing they must come to judgement? though they kill themselves, or drown themselves, Why the water and the Grave must one day deliver up their dead. And therefore, hence let us learn to arm ourselves, if Satan shall tempt us to such horrible facts, to cast away our selves, etc. Let us answer him, We may not cast away that which Christ hath bought with his own blood. Nay, let us answer him, That we shall not thereby end our misery, but increase it. Now if you demand of me, by what means the dead shall then arise at the last day? I answer, It is by the mighty power of the voice of CHRIST: The hour shall come (saith CHRIST) in the which, all that are in the Graves shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and come forth, john 5.28. And to show the wonderful power of the voice of Christ, it is compared to the sound of a Trumpet, the loudest, and the shrillest of all Instruments: And the Lord jesus himself shall descend, and come with a shout, 1 The. 4.16 and with the voice of the Archangel, and with the Trumpet of God, and then the dead in Christ shall arise first. Such shall be the power & force of this voice of the Lord JESUS, as that it shallbe heard over all the whole world: Nay, though men have lain many a thousand years rotten in the Grave, yet they shall hear it and come forth to judgement. Nay, the very devils and damned spirits, in spite of their teeth, shall be constrained to appear at his Voice; No Prince, no Monarch, no King, no Angel shall be able to absent themselves; but they must all be enforced to obey the Voice of the Son of GOD, and come to judgement. Use. O then, seeing we must all hear the voice of the Lord JESUS at the day of judgement, and we cannot but come forth of our Graves unto judgement: Oh let us now obey his Voice in the ministery of the Gospel, now embrace the Gospel, and the voice of his Ministers. If we will not now leave sin, hear CHRIST JESUS speaking unto us in his Word, and embrace his Gospel; then let us well know that we shall one day hear another Voice, when we shall be compelled to come before him to be condemned. Thus you may see, that all the dead must arise and come to judgement, and you see how, and by what means, our bodies shall be raised; namely, by the mighty and the wonderful power of the voice of the Lord jesus. Let us now come to the Uses. First, seeing of what death soever men shall die; either by fire or water, or howsoever, they must one day come to judgement: Let us then beware of that ungodly thought, and devilish persuasion that runs in most men's minds: namely, that think, that when they die, there is an end of all their misery: And though they have been grievous and horrible sinners, yet if they can escape till death, all is well. And thus they think, that they and their sins shall be buried together. No, no (poor souls) they do much deceive themselves: Howsoever thou diest, thou shalt come to judgement: And death is so far from ending thy misery, that it is a broad gate to let thee in into it. Luke 16. For so soon as the Glutton died, he was presently in hell in torment: And therefore let us take heed how we wish, as foolish men do in their sickness, or age, or misery; O I would I were dead, than I should be out of my pain. O no, no, if thou be not the child of God, and a repentant sinner; it had been better for thee never to have been borne, or to be a Toad, or Serpent. And thou shalt find, that death is so far from easing thy pain, that it shall bring thee ten thousand times more pain and torment, even in hell fire for ever: Therefore let us not think that death shall end the miseries of wicked men. Secondly, seeing all men must rise to judgement, and by what means soever they die they must be called to account; this is a wonderful comfort to God's poor children. Who abides more trouble and grief than they? Who be more hated, reviled, crossed, and wronged, than they? So as their life here, for the most part, is nothing else but a life of misery. But their comfort is here in this, that they shall rise again, and then the case shall be altered; then our misery shall be turned into felicity, joy, and happiness. Hast thou been poor here? then thou shalt be rich, and possess a Kingdom. Hast thou been hungry and thirsty here? then thou shalt taste of the Tree of Life. Hast thou been poor and naked here? Then thou shalt be clothed with the precious Robes of Christ's righteousness: and in steed of the rags of Infamy, and Reproach, which we must put on here, we shall be crowned with a Crown of immortal Glory, etc. Again, unto the wicked and the ungodly, it is not so with them, but they, having taken their pleasure here, and received their portion in this present world, shall arise now to judgement, to hear the Sentence of Condemnation denounced against them; and Mohammed Bovaziziow to be cast into the Lake that burns with fire and brimstone for ever, john 5.29. which is the second death. Thirdly, seeing Saint john saith, that we shall all come to judgement; these bodies of ours, though they be drowned, though they be burnt to ashes, or howsoever they be consumed, yet they shall rise again, either to Life eternal, or death eternal: Should not this make us all (Beloved) to look unto ourselves, to take heed we do not use our bodies to the dishonour of God. Wouldest thou have thy body to be partaker of Life, Felicity, Glory, and Salvation in heaven? Then use thy body now to the glory of God upon earth, to hear his word, to sanctify God's Sabbath, etc. But if thou use thy body to sin, to swearing, to drunkenness, whoredom, etc. then know, that thy body shall rise again to judgement to be tormented for ever. Do not look upon the rich Glutton, Luke 16. he had abused his body to swearing, drunkenness, etc. and what became of it, was he not fearfully tormented in Hell at last? And he which had given his tongue to swearing, etc. Now he cries, his tongue, his tongue. O that all sinful wretches could but think of this one example of GOD'S judgements! that if they abuse their bodies as this man did, that they shall then taste of the same judgement. wouldst thou have thy body glorified? then glorify God in thy body. Dost thou think that thy soul shall be saved, and thy body glorified, if thou use the members thereof to sin, to uncleaneness? etc. O no: let us not deceive our own souls, it can not be. For, saith the Apostle, Rom. 6.2. How can we that are dead to sin, yet live therein? Fourthly, seeing the holyghost saith, that of what death soever we do die, we shall all rise again; and God's children they shall rise to life, and to glory. This must teach us all this Doctrine; namely, not to weep and mourn immoderately for our friends deceased. True it is, that CHRIST JESUS wept for Lazarus; john 11. and the Disciples made great lamentation for Stephen. Acts 7. And so we have great cause to mourn and weep, when as some special member of the Church of God is taken away; we may not be as stocks or stones, or senseless creatures, without affection. It must needs grieve the heart of a husband to part with his loving, godly, and religious wife. But here is a mean for this mourning to moderate our weeping, that we weep not and mourn not overmuch, for they shall rise again. I would not have you ignorant brethren, concerning those that be asleep, that you should mourn at they that have no hope, 1. Thess. 4.13 Where the holy-Ghost tells us, that the dead in Christ do not die properly; but lay them down to take a sweet sleep, after their long and tedious labours, and troubles in this world; and afterward they must rise again to life, to happiness, to liberty, to glory, and salvation. And wherefore then should we mourn so excessively, & weep, and lament at the death of our friends, seeing they do not perish, they are not cast away? O no, their souls are presently in joy, and their bodies are buried in the grave, as in a bed of dowlne, to take a sweet sleep till the day of judgement, and then they shall rise to glory. And they were judged every man according to their works. Mark, I pray you, how the holy Ghost repeats this point, again and again he beats upon it, he can never have done with it. He said before, The Books are opened, and the dead were judged according to those things written in the books. And now again he saith, They were judged every man according to his works. What should be the cause why the holy-ghost so often repeats this point, and beats so upon it again and again? I answer, The cause is in us, because we are hardly brought to believe this point, hardly persuaded of so necessary a matter: for hardly one man of a thousand believeth this; That he shall be judged according to his works: Oh it is a hard matter to persuade men and women of this, That they must give an account of their works, and be judged by their works. Tell the wicked sinner of his ungodly ways, of his profaneness, contempt of God's word, etc. And what do they say? Do they quake and tremble? Doth their heart and souls even earn in them? O no, no: they flatter themselves with this conceit, God is merciful: And thus they make the mercy of God a packhorse for all their abominations. And thus it is in the vile heart of man, to think he shall never come to account for his sins, that he shall never be called to a reckoning for them, and receive his reward according to his works. Hear than we may perceive there be but two sorts of men and women; there is the repentant sinner, and the impenitent sinner: and both of them must come to judgement. The repentant sinner is he or she that mourneth for their sins, bewaileth them, hateth them, and leaveth them; and doth hunger and thirst after good things. Now the impenitent sinner, is he or she that lives in sin, and will not in any wise be brought to leave sin: They never with tears beg the pardon of them at the hands of God, but wallow in all uncleanness, heaping sin upon sin, and one ungodly way upon another: whereas all the sins of GOD'S children, who do repent, be quit and pardoned in Christ jesus, he hath nailed them to his Cross, and hath washed them away in his own Blood, and they shall never come to light. But their faith, their religion, their good deeds; as their feeding and clothing of CHRIST JESUS in his poor members, Matth. 25. and according to these they shall receive their reward, life, happiness, and eternal salvation▪ and as their good deeds be many, and great, so shall their honour, praise, and glory be greater in heaven. And therefore we should labour to abound in good works, in faith, knowledge, repentance, love, zeal, etc. seeing our reward shall be according to our works. But as for the unrepentant sinner that lives in sin, delights in sin, as they do; not repent, nor have no faith, nor good works: even so as their works shall be, so shall their punishment be. Ah what a woeful harvest hath many a poor soul now to reap at this day, that all his life time hath sold himself unto sin, that never had any care nor conscience to live a godly life? They shall weep, they shall howl & lament, when they shall see their reward shall be according to their works. O how should this doctirene move us all, as we have any care to our poor souls, to look to ourselves, to watch over our ways, to hate sin, as the very bane of our souls; and to avoid every evil work, because even by our works shall we be judged. O then as you love yourselves, and as you desire life and salvation, abound in good works, and as you fear the wrath and endless vengeance of God, and as you fear the torments of hell, take heed of sin, of every evil thought, of every evil word, and of every evil work: for by them we shall be judged at the last. And if our works be evil, let us assure ourselves this will be the sentence of the judge, Depart from me ye cursed, etc. But if you have care to live here a godly life, to abound in good works: O then see what a cheerful and comfortable voice ye shall hear, Come ye blessed of my father, etc. For judgement shall proceed according▪ to our works. O that God would touch our hearts, that we could but truly learn and believe this one lesson, That our sentence shall be as our works be, and judgement shall be awarded according to our works: O it would bridle us from many thousand sins and impieties. How should any man dare to sin, to swear, to lie, to steal, etc. when as he knoweth that his reward shall be according unto his works? and it would inflame our souls to labour to abound in good works, in knowledge, faith, repentance, humiliation, care, and conscience, because, if we abound in these, our sentence shall be happy, blessed, and comfortable; and our glory and reward shall be great in the Kingdom of heaven. The end of the third Sermon. The great Assize. THE FOURTH SERMON. REV. 20.14.15. 4 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire: this is the second death. 5 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life, was cast into the lake of fire. IN the handling of this weighty point of Religion; the second comning of CHRIST to judgement: we have learned from he mouth of God; First, what manner of person the judge shal● be; namely, that he shall come like a mighty Prince, with great Power, Majesty, and Glory, to the great comfort of all his poor members; & to the great terror and dread of all his enemies. Secondly, we have seen who shall be judged; Both great and small. Thirdly, the manner how judgement shall proceed; namely, by the written Records of men's consciences. And now in the last place, we are to come to the execution of judgement upon the wicked reprobates, and ungodly, in these two last verses: for when judgement is pronounced according to their works, when CHRIST JESUS shall say unto them, Depart from me, etc. then immediately the execution of this sentence shall follow; for so saith Saint john here, And death and ●ell were cast into the lake of fire, ●hat is the second death. First, here we are to seek the ●rue meaning of the Text, because there is never a word that ●s plain, but may move a quetion: For, First, what is Death that he ●hould be cast into Hell? Is Death any creature? Is Death subject to pain and torment? Surely no. Death is no body, ●t hath no sense nor feeling; Death is no creature, but only ●he deprivation of life. Again, ●hat a strange speech is this, ●hat death should be cast into ●ell; how can this be? Secondly, what is meant by ●he lake of Fire: Is hell a water, ●r fire, like our fire? And lastly, we are to consider what is meant by the second death, into which all reprobates must be cast. First, here by death and hell is meant, not death itself, or hell itself: but the heirs of death and hell, that is, all the Reprobates that shall be cast into hell fire, and there die for evermore. Thus than you see what is here meant by death and hell; namely, the heirs of death, and firebrands of hell: All reprobates, all impenitent sinners that live and die in their sins, all those shall be cast into the lake of fire. Seeing the holy-Ghost gives these Titles and Names, to all wicked and ungodly sinners, even death and hell. Surely this shows the wonderful misery▪ and the cursed estate of those that live and die in their sins without repentance. Alas, it is so woeful and damnable, that they be even called death and hell itself. Oh then let all sinners that live and delight in sin, Use. take heed unto themselves. You do see the woeful misery of all impenitent sinners; Namely, that they are no better than the vessels of wrath, the heirs of eternal death, and firebrands of hell for evermore. O that all sinners could forethink of this woeful misery that hangs over their heads, What a strange kind of speech is this, and of what force, when God calleth such Reprobates even death & hell itself? Ah poor wretches! Ah miserable and woeful creatures, which are but death and hell itself. Oh would that the Drunkards, etc. could lay this to heart: That howsoever they see not their misery, nor the woeful estate wherein they live, but bless themselves in their sinful ways; yet they are no better, than the heirs of vengeance, and wrath of God; nay indeed, very death and hell itself. True it is, that many wicked men do, as the people did in Esay his time; Esay 28.11 though they lived in horrible sins; yet they made a league with death, and were at an agreement with the Grave; they had taken a Lease of death and hell, to live in sin by Licence, without punishment. But the Lord tells them, he will break their covenants, and disannul their agreements: and although they have lived a long time in sin, yet in the end death will knock at their doors, and he will lay hold upon them, and they must pay full dear for their long Lease; even the loss of body and soul for ever. And is not this the practice of most men and women? Do they not even make a covenant with death? and do they not labour to be at agreement with hell? Men live in swearing, lying, drunkenness, etc. and yet they think they shall never die, they think they shall escape for all their sins. But (poor souls) let them well know that death and hell will seize upon them. Nay, if they live and die in their sins, without repentance; let them know, that they be not better than death and hell itself, and they must be cast into the lake of fire. True it is, you shall see many a notorious sinner, contemner of the Word, a drunkard, etc. they think themselves to be jolly fellows, and who but they? Alas, alas, their case is fearful: poor souls, they do not see they be the sons of death, the heirs of vengeance, and the wrath of God, the firebrands of hell; nay, even death and hell itself. Use 2 Hear we may see what a horrible and cursed thing sin is in the sight of God; for sin maketh men become guilty of eternal death, and firebrands of hell: as we see when the traitor is executed for treason, his son smarteth for his sin: Even so sin, which is treason against the majesty of God, when we have brought it forth, it bringeth us to death and hell: For death and hell is the reward of sin. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.] Would you know what shall become of the profane wretches of the world? would you know what shall become of the blasphemer? would you know what shall become of the adulterer, drunkard, idolater, swearer? etc. S. john saith here in plain terms, They shall be cast into the lake of fire. Thus was the rich Glutton, Luke 16. for his gluttony, drunkenness, want of pity, etc. cast into this woeful lake of fire. And thus shall all impenitent sinners one day be cast into this woeful Lake of fire. Now, if a Blasphemer, or an Adulterer, etc. should have but this punishment, to hold his little Finger in the flame of a candle one hour, how could he endure it? But if a man should be roasted on a Gridiron, or boiled in a Cauldron of molten lead, what misery were this? whose heart would not quake, and melt, to think on it? O these are nothing, in comparison of these most extreme and endless torments in this lake of fire; when both body and soul, shall both burn and boil, and as it were, fry in the scorching flames which cannot be quenched. All men, almost, are afraid to commit Treason because Traitors are so grievously punished: they are hanged, drawn, and quartered. But, alas; men be not afraid to commit Treason against the King of Heaven, though they must be cast into a lake of fire for evermore. Men are afraid to offend the Prince for fear of death: And yet our Saviour bids us, Not fear them that can kill the body, and can do no more, but fear him that can cast both body and soul into hell fire. And yet we see that men and women be more afraid to offend man, than God that can cast both body and soul into hell fire. If we should see a little child fall into the fire, and hear it cry pitifully, and the very Bowels should be burnt out: O how it would grieve us, and make our very hearts bleed within us; How much more than should it grieve us, to see, not a child, but even our own bodies and souls, cast away for ever, by sin, into the lake of fire that cannot be quenched? If a man should come amongst us and cry, fire, fire, thy house is all of a flaming fire, thy Corn, thy cattle, thy Wife, and Children, and all that thou hast were consumed with fire: Oh how would this astonish us, that would make the very hair to stand upright on our heads, and tears to gush out of our eyes. Behold then, and see, the Spirit of God cries out unto us, Fire: even the dreadful fire of hell, gapeth ready to devour, not thy house, thy corn, or thy cattle, but thy poor soul, and that for evermore. Oh how should this break our hard and flinty hearts asunder, and make our souls to bleed? if we have any spark of grace, any care of our souls, that they may not be tormented in this Lake of Fire for ever. I will leave the further handling of this point, until I come unto the next verse; where the holy-Ghost saith again, the better to make it sink into our very hearts, That Whosoever is not found written in the Book of Life, shall be cast into this lake of fire. Now, the better to express what is meant by this Lake of Fire: Not a bodily death, nor a material fire, like to ours; But the holy-Ghost meaneth here, even the second death; that is, not of the body only, Double death. but of eternal death and damnation both of body and soul for evermore. This is the second death, and by this we may see there is a double death: there is the first death, and the second death. The first death is, the separation of the soul from the body, & this is common to all; the children of GOD do die this death, aswell as the wicked; yet there is a difference: For death is no curse to the children of God, because Christ's death hath taken away the Sting of death, that it can not hurt the children of God: No, it is as a door to let our souls into the Kingdom of Heaven: But the second they never taste of: No child of God needs to fear the second death; Rom. 8.1. For there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ jesus. Wherein the second death consisteth. Now, as the first death is only the separation of the soul from the body; so the second death is a total, and final separation of both soul and body from God for evermore. And this second death doth stand principally in these three points. First, that all the wicked and ungodly sinners that live and die in their sins, they shall be severed from the glorious and blessed presence of GOD for ever: Which shallbe punished with everlasting perdition from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power, 2. Thes. 1.9. O what a woeful death is this, to be plucked and torn from the blessed and comfortable presence of God: whereas our Saviour CHRIST saith, Matth. 5. ●8. that our happiness, and all the joy of GOD'S children, shall stand in the beholding of God, and being in his presence for evermore. Then what misery and what woe will this be unto the wicked, to be cast out of the glorious presence of God for ever, seeing that he alone is the fountain of Life and of happiness? Secondly, the second death stands in this, that wicked men and women shall not only be severed in body and soul from the blessed and glorious presence of God for ever: but they shall be cast into the lake of fire, and have all their abode with the devils, and all the damned spirits in hell, where shall be no joy, nor comfort, nor ease, but weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth. If a man should be cast into a deep and darksome dungeon, full of Toads and Serpents: what comfort I pray could he have but to wish for death? This is the death that all the impenitent sinners must die. They must be cast out of the sweet and comfortable presence of the Lord CHRIST JESUS, and be thrown into a Lake of Fire and Brimstone, there to be tormented for evermore. Mat. 25 41 Thirdly, the third thing wherein this, second death doth consist, is, that all reprobates shall be punished with everlasting perdition; they shall be tormented in body and soul with unspeakable torments: the wrath and vengeance of God shall seize upon them, and feed on them, as fire doth on pitch, or brimstone; where they shall be ever burning and boiling, and yet never consumed; ever in pain and torment, and never have ease. And to show the wonderful torment of hell, of this second death, our Saviour compareth it unto a furnace of fire. Mat. 13.24 Now what a woeful torment is it, to be cast into a furnace of fire, and to lie many thousand years therein? this is a torment that cannot be expressed. Again, he saith, that Their worm shall ll not die, Esay 66.24 and their fire shall not be quenched. Now how should a man do if he should have a worm always crawling in his belly, gnawing always at his heart? This is the estate of all wicked men and women: They shall always have a worm, even grief and anguish of heart, ever gnawing at their hearts, and biting at their consciences: And this worm shall never die, nor kill them, but ever gnawing and wounding them. So than you see by this which hath been spoken, what this second death is, and also wherein it doth consist. Now all the Question will be, Who shall be cast into this Lake of Fire? Who are they that shall die this second death, Who they be that shall partake of the second death. which is such a miserable and woeful death? For there is no man nor woman that liveth, I think, but they suppose that they shall escape this death: they hope that they shall be saved and so escape this flaming fire: And therefore now you shall see who they be, that shall be cast into it. Look, they are there marked out unto us, Reu. 21.8. The fearful and unbelievers, and abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and liars, etc. shall have their part in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death: So than the holy-Ghost telleth us, that all impenitent sinners shall be damned, 1 Cor. 6.10 shall be cast into this lake of fire, which is the second death. Then what a strange thing is this? The holy-ghost tells us who shall be damned, and cast into the Lake of Fire; all impenitent sinners; the Blasphemer, the Drunkard, etc. and yet no man (almost) will believe this. Well, the Spirit of God cannot lie: He saith, That all the wicked and ungodly sinners shallbe cast into the lake of Fire which is the second death: now tell never so wicked a wretch of his sins, of his swearing, etc. And what will they say? Tush, GOD is merciful, I hope I shall be saved: Is not this, I pray, to give the holy-ghost the lie? Tell the drunkard or the profaner of the Lords day, etc. they shall be damned; do they believe this? Oh, no, no; For if they did believe it, how dared they be so bold to live in sin? Well, howsoever these vile wretches say, they hope to be saved aswell as the best of them all; yet know, this is the truth of God; the holy-Ghost telleth us plainly, That all unbelievers, and thieves, and murderers, etc. shall be cast into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone, which is the second death. But to you, whose hearts do tremble for fear of these things, whose souls do melt for fear of this second death: now if you would know how to escape this Lake of Fire, and how to avoid this second death, which is th'eternal damnation and torment both of body and soul; you shall see how the Spirit of GOD doth not only show you how to escape hell, but to come to heaven; not only to avoid damnation in this Lake of fire, but to obtain salvation and joy in the blessed and glorious presence of Almighty God for evermore. Now see what the holy-ghost doth teach thee in the sixth Verse of this chapter, Blessed and holy is he that hath his part in the first Resurrection, for on such the second death shall have no power: But they shall be the Priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years, that is, for evermore. So then, would you know what manner of men and women shall escape the second death, and eternal damnation in this lake of hell fire? why the holy-Ghost saith, They, and none but they, that have their parts in the first Resurrection. So than it is manifest, in these words, that there be two resurrections, and also a double death. The Children of GOD, they have a double resurrection, and one death. But all wicked and ungodly sinners, they have one resurrection, and a double death. So then let us see what is meant by this first resurrection; namely, our rising out of the grave of sin, to newness of life. This is the first resurrection, Ephes 2.1. You that were dead in trespasses and sins, hath he quickened. Rom. 6.4. And we are buried with Christ in Baptism, that like as he rose again to the glory of the Father: even so we should walk in newness of life. So then, would you know, whether you shall escape eternal fire in hell, even this second death? then look unto your own souls. Are you dead to all your old sins, and new sins? Are you quickened in the inner man? Do you hate sin as well when it is committed by yourself, as by others? Do you labour to mortify and to keep under the works of the flesh, and walk in all holy duties and obedience both unto God and men? Rom. 8.1. For there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ, which walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Blessed and holy are they that have part in the first resurrection; where he shows, that none shall be blessed, none shall have part in the first resurrection, and be freed from the second death, but such as be sanctified to live a godly life, that are partakers of the first resurrection. And therefore, if you desire to be blessed, & to escape the second death, which is the everlasting damnation both of body and soul, then labour here to live a godly life. For these two, justification and Sanctification, cannot be severed. And this is a very great comfort to all the true members of Christ, Use. that do repent and leave their sins, and live a godly life; though they be in misery, in poverty, in want; and in the end, die the first death of the body; yet they shall be freed from the second death, that is, from eternal death: the gates of hell shall not prevail against them. And therefore, as you love your souls, as you desire to be blessed, and to escape eternal damnation, which is the second death: Labour (I say) to have a part in the first Resurrection, to die unto sin, and to live in newness of life. But as for wicked and ungodly sinners that live in sin, delight in sin, that have no part in the first resurrection: their case is woeful, they be subject to the second, that is, eternal death and damnation: for if ye live after the flesh, Rom. 6.8. ye shall die. And therefore deceive not yourselves, as many do, which think, if they come to Church, hear the word, receive the Sacraments, all is well, they hope God will be merciful to them, they hope they shall not be damned. Well, mark what I say; thou mayst come to church duly, thou mayst hear the word of God as long as thou livest, thou mayest receive the Sacrament as often as thou wilt; but if thou have not thy part in the first resurrection, that is, unless thou live a godly life, unless thou mortify thy filthy sins, and ungodly desires, unless thou become a new creature; surely, surely, thy estate is lamentable, and thy part is in the lake of fire and brimstone, which is the second death. And therefore let no man deceive himself, and sooth himself, because he hears the Word, professes the Gospel, receives the Sacrament, that therefore he is well enough. No, no: though thou hear never so much, if thou live in sin, in swearing, drunkenness, etc. thy estate is as woeful as before, because thou art not freed from the second death. And mark this difference, The children of God have two resurrections, and one death: they rise from sin in this life, to newness and holiness of life: and they rise at the last day to eternal life in Heaven; and therefore truly blessed. But alas, graceless and godless sinners, that have two deaths▪ and but one resurrection; they die in sin here, they are dead in sin, and delight in sin here: and so they die the first death of the body, and eternal death, the second death of body and soul in hell. And as they never had part in the first resurrection: so the second resurrection is only to judgement, to death, and to damnation. And therefore, if you would live when you be dead, you must die to sin whiles you be alive. Only the penitent sinners shall live for ever in eternal life; only those which die to sin, shall escape the second death: But the impenitent sinner, that lives and delights in sin here, he shall die for his sins eternally; nay, he shall never taste of the life to come. But as he would not labour to have his part in the first resurrection; so he shall be sure to have his portion in the second death: which is so fearful a thing, that it might make even flinty hearts to break in pieces, to lie in fire burning for ever, without any ease, or end. O let us look unto it, and live a godly life, and labour to have part in the first resurrection; and then shall the second death do us no harm; but we shall live for ever in heaven with God. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the Book of life, was cast into the lake of fire. THE former verse did show to us, the execution of the last judgement upon all wicked and ungodly sinners; and of that we spoke the last time. Now in this Verse we may observe the different estate of the children of God, and of the wicked: for as there be but two sorts of men, Good and Bad, Elect and Reprobate, Penitent and Impenitent, the children of GOD, and the limbs of Satan: So there be but two places, Heaven and Hell, joy and Pain, the Right hand and the left: and the reward shall be according, either Blessed or Cursed; for so Saint john saith here, The Elect shall have eternal life: But they that be Reprobates shall be cast into the lake of fire. First, concerning the Elect, and those that be chosen in jesus Christ, and whose names be written in Heaven. As their lives do differ from the wicked and ungodly; so their estate after this life is far different: for they shall be blessed for ever. And if you do ask, what is this Blessedness that all the Elect shall have? I answer with Paul, 1. Cor. 29. The eye of man never saw it, nor it never entered into the heart of man to conceive the hundredth part of this happiness: yet we may out of the word of God, gather some taste of it, as it is described unto us in the word of God. And first & foremost, this blessed state of the godly at the last day, stands in this; That God shall be all in all unto us: what good thing soever the heart of man can wish, 1. Cor. 15.28. that will God be unto us. If thou desire wealth, why GOD will be it unto thee. If honour, or pleasure, why Almighty God will be all in all unto us: nay, every child of God shall have a kingdom, Matth. 25. come ye blessed, etc. reve. 21. Secondly, in the Kingdom of Heaven, there shall be no wants: for we shall be freed from all sin, and all wants in body and soul shall be supplied. And though now we see God but in part, yet than we shall behold him face to face, 1. Cor. 15.28. to our eternal comfort; we shall evermore live in his blessed presence, john 17.3. Revel. 21. Psa. 17.15. Reu. 22.3. and reign with him for ever. Thirdly, all the Elect shall be like unto Christ jesus: so saith Paul, Phil. 3.2.1. He shall change our vile bodies, & make them like his glorious body. Christ was most holy, pure, incorruptible, and glorious: even so shall we be; we shall be for ever freed from both sin, Satan, death, and hell. Fourthly, in heaven we shall reap endless joy and happiness, Psal. 16.11 and shall delight in praising of God for ever: so as we shall keep a perpetual Sabbath, and rest in the service and worship of God for ever. And this shall be done to all which fear GOD, and whose names be written in the Book of Life. O then, cursed be these men and women, which think, Use. and say, Matt. 3.14. It is in vain to serve the LORD. O no: then men shall know, it is not in vain to serve the Lord: Nay, God will put a difference between them that serve him, and serve him not. And this should encourage all men to labour to abound in all holy duties; seeing God will reward even the least work of faith. If thou give but a cup of cold water in the name of Christ, verily thou shalt not lose thy reward. Though our works cannot merit, yet he will in mercy, for Christ's sake, thus Crown the good works of his children. And seeing a few shall be saved, o let us labour to be of the little Flock; let us, above all things, seek this Kingdom of God: If thou win this, thou art happy and blessed, though thou lose all the world beside. And if thou lose it, thou art miserable & wretched, though thou win the whole world: O then what mad men are we, if we do never seek for this, or dream of heaven till we have one foot in hell: let us not then think to gain a kingdom so easily; we cannot go to heaven on beds of dowlne, but we must strive to enter therein. And as life is sweet, joy, riches, honour, and pleasures are sweet: so to have them for ever, without fear of losing, this is a blessed thing: for so it is with them that be in possession of this Kingdom, they shall be out of fear to lose it, but shall reign with Christ for evermore. Thus (in some sort) you may conceive the blessed, and most happy estate of all the elect and faithful children of Almighty God, which ought to move us to repent and turn to God. But, what shall become of the rest, the ungodly sinners, of them whose names be not written in the Book of Life? Alas poor wretches, poor souls! it grieves me to think of them, it would make a man's heart to melt, to think on their most woeful misery: And I quake to speak, or to think what shall become of their souls for ever. The holy-ghost saith here, They shall be cast into the lake of fire. What shall become then of the swearer, drunkard? etc. They shall be cast into the lake of fire: Matth. 25. for so saith Christ, Go ye cursed, etc. This is their end, and this is their portion for evermore. Ah poor wretch, Ah vile creature, ah miserable sinner: it had been good for them, if they had never been borne, or been made rather Toads, or Serpents, than Men. For besides that, that they shall be cast out of the glorious and comfortable presence of God, and his holy Angels, they shall be cast into this lake of fire for ever. Concerning which Lake of fire, into which all impenitent and hardhearted sinners shall be cast for ever; I will set down three special points. First, the perpetuity of it. Secondly, the extremity of it. And thirdly, that it is remediless. All which considered; me thinks it should make the flinty hearts of sinners to melt, and to break in pieces, for fear they do come into this place of torment, into this lake of fire. And seeing the spirit of God doth repeat it again and again, that all reprobate sinners shall be cast into the lake of fire; it is to show, that men do little consider of that, they do not tremble at it. And therefore he beats upon it, to teach us, it is a special point to be thought on, to mollify our hard hearts. And first, concerning this lake of fire: In that it is named here A lake of fire, this noteth to us, the extremity of the torment, that it is a place of endless woe, unspeakable pain. The Scripture gives it sundry names, to set forth the unspeakable torment thereof. Reu. 21.8. All wicked & impenitent sinners shall be cast into the lake of fire. For of all torments, none is so extreme as fire. And Christ saith, There shall be weeping, Luk. 13.28 wailing, etc. And it shallbe most hot, and yet most cold; strangeness of this fire, etc. Again, Their worm shall never die, Mark chap. 9.44. That worm which shall gnaw their consciences, even the torment of their consciences. O what a woeful thing is this, for a man or woman, to have a worm continually to gnaw their bowels within, never to let them alone, or to give them any rest? Such shall the misery be of the wicked. Again, Tophet is prepared for the King, he cannot escape, and it is deep and large, and the burning thereof is fire & much wood, and the breath of the Lord as a river of brimstone shall kindle it, Esay 30.33. So as the wrath of the Lord shall be as bellows to blow it, and as a river of brimstone to maintain it. By this you may a little conceive the extremity of this woeful Lake of hell fire. But if I had the tongue of men or Angels, I could never express it to the full. For as the joys of heaven be unspeakable, so the torments of hell can not be expressed, at what time the total wrath of God shall seize upon the reprobates, both body and soul, and shall feed upon them for evermore. Now, to the end you may the better conceive the extremity of it, you must know, that the torments of hell, they be universal even in all the parts of the body, and faculties of the soul at once; the mind, the will, the conscience, the affection, the head, the heart, etc. all at once shall be tormented. The pains in this life, they are (for the most part) particular in some part of the body: but in this fire, the sinner shall be tormented in all parts at once: and yet we may see, that some pains there be, as is the stone, etc. which men would not willingly have for a whole world. Alas, what a woeful thing will this be, to be thus tormented, even in all and every member so extremely? Let one example serve in this point. The rich Glutton cries out, Oh I am tormented in this flame! Luk. 16. The torment and heat was so great, that he would have given even a whole world, if he had been Lord of it, for so much water as would have stuck to one's finger, to have cooled his flaming tongue: Tongue, tongue; Soul, soul: Thus you see, that this fire is most extreme and woeful, and yet men will not believe it, they fear it not. But let us think upon the most woeful and extreme pain of this Lake of fire, and let us make that use which CHRIST teacheth us: If thy right hand or foot, that is, any thing never so sweet, never so profitable, never so dear or near unto us; Let us cut them off and cast them from us; that is, let us forego, and forsake them all: For it is better to go poor to heaven, then rich to hell: It is better to go naked to Heaven, then in costly apparel to Hell. O let all carnal men, all ungodly sinners, that live in pleasures, sports or pastimes; yea let them know they shall pay full dearly for these things, even the loss of their souls in hell for evermore. Secondly, as the pains of Hell be easeless and most extreme, so they be endless and perpetual, no end of them for evermore. So Abraham tells the rich Glutton; You that be there cannot come hither, Luke 16. and so saith S. john, Revel. 21. It is a lake of fire & brimstone that burneth for ever. So, Go ye cursed into everlasting fire, Mat. 25.41. It can never be quenched, when as damned sinners shall lie therein many thousand years, yea, as many as there be Stars in Heaven, and yet never to have an end. If a man should but once every thousand years, take one spoonful of water out of the Sea; how many thousand thousand years would be expired before he should have emptied the same? O consider this, you that forget GOD; Consider this, you which contemn the Word of GOD, profane the Lords Sabbath, that make no conscience at all of drunkenness, etc. what a treasure of plagues the Lord hath reserved for the damned? Oh, let us think often of this, that these torments be both endless and easeless? Oh what mad men and women, what fools be we, if we will now enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, and then to lie in torments for ever? What shall it benefit or profit us to enjoy a little worldly pelf, money, lands or livings here, to live in all pleasures & delights, some sixty or eighty years, and then to be tormented in hell fire for evermore. And yet do we see that such is the extreme folly, and madness of many men, that they will have their pennyworths here, though they pay never so dear for it in the life which is to come. Thirdly, these torments, as they be endless and easeless, so they be remediless. This we may behold in the Glutton in hell, who would have given a world, if he had been owner of it, and yet for all that could he not have it; it was then denied him. For there is no ease nor remedy: in hell no redemption after death; no silver nor gold, no wit, nor policy, no appealing to another judge; but he must lie by it for evermore even in this close prison, till he have paid the debt and uttermost farthing. For, if all the Saints and Angels in the Kingdom of heaven should fall at the feet of Christ, to beg but for one soul, it could do him no good, CHRIST would deny them all, they must have the repulse. O consider this: this is it that ought to make all men to quake, and all hearts to tremble, that in hell is no ease, nor hope of redemption. This is that which makes the devils and damned spirits to fear and to tremble, and yet it cannot move flinty, and stonie-hearted sinners once to be afraid. O I beseech you let us think of these things now in these days of mercy: now is remedy to be had, now we may avoid this woeful misery, now we may escape this fearful torment. If we will now repent, if we will now leave our sins and beg pardon of almighty God for them, we may escape: but after death there is no time of mercy but judgement and torment, but fire, and brimstone, and the wrath of God for evermore. And therefore now let us repent, let us bewail our sins, and live as the servants of God, and not as the slaves of sin and Satan, any longer; and then the gates of hell shall not prevail against us. Our Saviour Christ tells us, Mat. 16.26 that the soul of a poor beggar is more worth than many thousand worlds: And therefore the loss of a soul is greater than the loss of the whole world. If a man should lose House, Land, Wife, Child, and all he hath, yet it is nothing in comparison of his soul: that is a loss of all losses, to be severed from God, and from Christ, and to be in hell torments for ever. O then let us know what our souls be worth; let us learn to prise them above the whole world. But alas, men can not so esteem of them. Oh no: men will for one penny, or an hours pleasure, hazard loss of soul and body for evermore. Ah poor soul, thou didst never yet know what thy soul is worth. Christ jesus saith, it is more worth than all the world. Oh let us so esteem of it, and value it, and account all riches, pleasures, or profits, as dung, so that our souls, our poor souls may be saved in the day of our Lord. The end of the fourth Sermon. A FOLD FOR Christ's Sheep: Delivered in two Sermons upon the first Chapter of the CANTICLES, vers. 6.7. BY SAMVEL SMITH Minister of the Word of GOD, at Prittlewell in Essex. ESAY 55.3. Hearken, and your soul shall live. LONDON, Printed by NICHOLAS OKES. 1617. ❧ TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL AND Virtuous Gentlewoman, Mistress MARY BUTLER of Tooby, SAMVEL SMITH wisheth all Grace, Prosperity, and true comfort in this life, and eternal happiness in the life to come. THe Book of the holy Scripture (Right Worshipful) is as the Princely Prophet David calleth it, Ps. 119 125 A Lantern to our feet▪ and a Light to our Paths. The Elect of God are therein enlightened, and taught of God, through the inward operation of God's Spirit: john 6. the knowledge thereof hath been dear and precious unto the Godly. Paul, that sanctified Vessel of the Lord, did esteem all things else but Dung in comparison of it. Phil. 3.8. Moses regarded not the pleasures he might have enjoyed in king Pharaohs Court, Heb. 11.24 in comparison of this: And David preferred the Office of a Doorkeeper in God's house, Psal. 84.12 before the chiefest Palaces here below. This was that that Solomon the wisest did aim at especially, 1. Reg. 3.5.9. having his choice of many things offered him from God: and no marvel though the children of God do prefer the choice of it before all other inward things whatsoever, because our Saviour will teach us, that the knowledge thereof will bring a man to Life Eternal: john 17.3. It will safely conduct a man to God his kingdom, and make him decline from the by-ways of sin and error, which lead to destruction. Hear is Milk for Babes, and strong meat for men of riper years: so that none that are invited to this Feast, but may find some refreshing. Yet notwithstanding, that this is the excellency of the holy Scriptures, and that this hath been the choice of God his servants in all ages, to prefer the knowledge of it before all things, and to conform their lives thereunto: The Papists, the malicious enemies of God's truth, will notwithstanding show themselves to be of the serpentical brood, Gene. 3.15 ever treading on the heel of God his church, even with their Templum Domini: jeremy 7. Templum Domini: the Church, the Church, as if the church-Keyes hung ever at their girdle. These their painted shows of piety and holiness, hath caused many to stagger in the way of godliness, who have not taken deep root in christian profession. Let such, with a single eye, read over these two sermons, where they shall find a Fold pitched for all Christ his Sheep: The true church made known from the flocks of his Companions: which, howsoever they come with, jesus, jesus, in their mouths, yet do deny the power of godliness, seeking utterly to extinguish the light of God's truth, that it may not shine unto men. Indeed, a palpable darkness hath yet overspread all the Dominions of that Romish Pharaoh, more palpable than the darkness of Egypt, but the Truth shall prevail, maugre the spite and malice of Antichrist, and all that bloody Crew: And the Bright Beams of the gospel shall dispel those foggy mists of Popery, and Ignorance: when the pride of the Whore of Rome is once at the height, and the measure of her iniquity is once full, according to that of Saint john in the Revelation: She is fallen, she is fallen, even Babylon that great City, etc. God put it into the hearts of all christian princes, to rise up against her, * By suppressing of Popery. that their war with them may assure them of a peace with themselves, and with their Lord God. For, how dangerous they be unto a christian commonwealth, even their hellish Attempts do show. Neither is it an error in practice, as many would bear men in hand, but it is an error in doctrine, teaching, yea and maintaining it, that they may safely kill, and take away the life of a christian Prince, that will not yield and subject himself unto the Pope of Rome. * Therefore traitors to Christian Princes in action or affection, and so much the more dangerous to be suffered. And no marvel then, though they can not endure the manifestation of God his Word, which is a Lantern unto our feet, and a Light unto our Paths, directing us to heaven: For this Light, if the Pope did not smother it, even little children in the Streets would long ere this have cried: Fie upon them, fie upon them. It is my care, both in public and private (out of my small reading) to discover, as much as in me lieth, the mystery of Iniquity, and to lend one blast to the sounding of that Horn, The word. that shall at last shake down the walls of this jericho. It is the old and ancient Doctrine of Faith and Repentance that I here entreat of: As for the plainness of the manner of delivery of it, I do trust you will acknowledge that the power of the spirit is best seen in weakness: and that plainelinesse do best answer a strait and even Level: the evidence of the spirit is best seen in plainness. I have presumed to prefix your worships Name unto this small Work: It shall (by God's good blessing) increase your love unto the truth and gospel of jesus Christ: A zealous professor whereof you have showed yourself to be these many years: and work in you a further detestation of Popery. As you have begun well, so proceed, and let your works be more at last then at first: Be still for God in all his ways, and God will be still for you in all your ways: advance him still, and he will advance you. Thus I add this poor Mite to the treasury of the Church, ascribing the Patronage to yourself, the use to the world, and the success of it to God. I pray God to keep you in his holy fear, and favour, unto the end: and so remain Your worships in the surest bond. SAMVEL SMITH. A Table of the Doctrines contained in these two Sermons. THE FIRST SERMON. CANT. 1. v. 6.7. Doctrine 1. CHRIST JESUS must be loved with the strongest affection of love. p. 234 Doct. 2. True note of a Sheep of Christ, to hunger and thirst after the word of God. p. 225 Doctr. 3. The church of God doth acknowledge Christ to be her chief shepherd. p. 267 Doctr. 4. The church of GOD sometimes is in the very heat of persecution. p. 274 Doctr. 5. Christ leaveth not his church in the heat of persecution, but provideth comfort for them. p. 285 Doct. 5. It is altogether impossible for men to hold out in time of trial, that are not assisted by God. p. 296 THE SECOND SERMON CANT. 1. v. 7. Doctrine 6. CHRIST esteemeth of his church, as if they had no sin. p. 308 Doctr. 7. The church of GOD sometimes may be at such a straight, as not to discern the truth. p. 317 Doctr. 8. A direction to know which is the true church. p. 324 A Fold for Christ's SHEEP. THE FIRST SERMON. CANT. 1.6.7. 6 Show thou me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, and where thou liest at noon: For why should I be as she that turneth aside to the Flocks of thy companions? 7 If thou know not, O thou the fairest among women, get thee forth by the steps of the Flock, and feed thy Kids by the Tents of the Shepherds. BEFORE I enter into the Text itself, which I have now read unto you, it shall not be amiss for my better proceeding, and your understanding, to speak something concerning the order of placing this Book, the Title of it, and the subject matter therein contained. Touching the order of placing this Book, wherein king Solomon labours to build up the Spiritual Temple of the Soul: It is the same he observed in building the material temple, 1. Reg 6. where he framed three Courts; the utmost for the Common People, the second for the Priests and Levites, and last of all, that Sanctum Sanctorum, the Holiest of Holies, only for the High Priest to enter in at, and that but once a year: even so in this Spiritual Temple of man's Soul he hath likewise framed three Courts: First, an utmost Court, which is his Book of proverbs, where all sorts and degrees of men whatsoever, are taught & instructed a civil course of manners: Next to that, he hath a second Court, which is his Ecclesiastes, leading men on further in the ways of godliness and Christian piety: And last of all, he hath a Sanctum Sanctorum, which is his Canticles, wherein not every one, but only those which delight in heavenly and Divine Mysteries may behold the pure, free, perfect, eternal, and constant love of Christ jesus towards his Church, and every faithful Soul; as also the love of his Church towards him, and what great and princely benefits she reapeth by him. Secondly, for the Title and subject matter of this most excellent Book, as there is Sabbatum Sabbati, so this is a Song of Songs: because of all that Solomon did indite, this is most Divine and most excellent. In the which he doth most lively and affectionately, by Allegorical, and parabolical Speeches, cipher out and describe unto us the most holy and perfect love of Christ jesus, towards the Church his blessed Spouse. For CHRIST and his Church are here brought in, in this worthy Book, as two Paramours, Psalm 45 who are in love the one with the other; as a time of wooing ever goeth before the solemnisation of Matrimony, and which in due convenient time have a purpose to marry, Math. 1.11 as joseph and Mary were first espoused before they came together: So the same order is observed in this Spiritual Union betwixt Christ and his Church: john 3.29. They must first be contracted, then after married. The Contract is, when a man is regenerate and borne anew, Revel. 21 9 translated out of Nature into Grace, depending only upon Christ for salvation: and finished and made up in the day of judgement, when all the Elect shall fully enjoy Christ. For so witnesseth the Holy ghost, where it is said, Let all be glad and rejoice, and give glory to him, for the Marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready, Reu. 19.7. So then this book contains in it the wonderful love, and mutual affection betwixt Christ jesus and his Spouse: the true Church of GOD, and every true believer. Thus much may serve touching the book itself, we will now come to the words of the Text. Show thou me, O thou whom my soul loveth, etc. IN the beginning of this chapter, the Church beginneth to speak to Christ, and being ravished in heart with his Love, desires most earnestly to be embraced of him, that she might be joined unto him, and have fellowship with him, preferring Christ jesus with the blessings and benefits she reapeth by him, before all other things in the world. In the third Verse she confesseth her untowardness, and her want of power to embrace Christ, and therefore she desireth him to draw her heart by his Word and Spirit: whereby she showeth her earnest desire to receive jesus Christ. Verse 4. She removes an objection that might be made: for it might be said, Alas, thou art black and deformed, how canst thou then hope that he will take any pleasure in thy beauty, seeing that he is the most pure, blessed and glorious Son of God? To this she confesseth, that though by Nature she be black, full of blemishes and natural corruptions, by reason of her original sin, and natural corruptions, as also her actual transgressions; yet notwithstanding, being washed in Christ's Blood, clothed in his Righteousness, and being decked and beautified with the Graces of his Spirit, Knowledge, Faith, Repentance, Zeal, Patience, Love, Obedience, etc. she is fair and comely. Now in the sixth Verse, she puts up an earnest request unto Christ, that he would in mercy show her where he feedeth his Flock, and where he provides comfort for them in the time of trouble. For Christ being the great Shepherd, his Church on earth seeks only after him, to be fed, resting assured, that there is but one true shepherd, who feedeth all his Sheep with wholesome pasture. In these two Verses we have two things to be considered of us, Viz. 1 The Request and Petition the which the Church doth make unto Christ. Verse 6. The Text divided 2 The most kind and loving answer of Christ jesus unto his Church, directing her, and comforting her according to her Petition, Verse 7. In the first of these we are to consider two things. First, the Request; and secondly, the reason of the Request. In the Request, note, First, the person to whom she resorts; Oh thou whom &c. Secondly, the Request itself, which is twofold. First, that Christ jesus would show her where he feeds his Flock with his holy Word & Sacraments; to this end, that he would feed her, as he fed the Flocks of former times. Secondly, where he provides shelter and shadow, in the heat of persecution; as the manner of those Shepherds was in those hot countries, to drive their sheep to shade in the heat of the day. And lastly, the Reason: For why should I be as she that turneth aside after the Flocks of thy companions? So that if CHRIST do it not, it will not be for His honour, nor yet for her good. The person unto whom the Church seeks for direction. First, for the Person to whom she seeketh for direction and comfort, it is CHRIST JESUS the Saviour and Redeemer of his church and people; whom she describeth thus, Oh thou whom my soul loveth, etc. q. d. O Lord JESUS CHRIST my Saviour and Redeemer, whom I love with all mine heart; yea whom I love most earnestly, above all the world: So, as if the question were asked what I love best in all the world, I speak it from my heart; It is thou Lord alone. Doctr. 1 Christ jesus must be loved with the stFaida Hamdiongest affection of love. Hence we learn with what affection every child of God, and true believer, must love JESUS CHRIST; namely, with the greatest and strongest affection of love they can. So as if it were asked, what, or whom dost thou love most, thou canst truly say with the Church here, the Lord jesus CHRIST, O thou whom my soul loveth! So did S. Peter, whose love was so great that he died for CHRIST: So that he might very well say to Christ when he asked him this question, Whether he did love him, or no? Yea Lord, john 21.15 thou knowest that I love thee. The like is to be seen in Marie, whose love was so great to Christ, that in testimony thereof she washed his feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head: So that CHRIST gives this testimony of her to her everlasting praise, Luke 7.47 That she loved much. So doth the Church and Spouse of CHRIST testify her love to Christ, in divers places of this most worthy book calling CHRIST JESUS her Beloved, Cant. 2.10 My beloved spoke and said, etc. And again, Stay me with Flagons, and comfort me with Apples, for I am sick of love, Cant. 2.5. Yea it is a Precept given by the Lord God himself, that he must have the chiefest love, and the first room in our hearts: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, & with all thy strength, Deut. 6.5. The Lord will not be satisfied with the love of our eyes, to behold his works; the love of the ear, to listen to his word; the love of the tongue, to talk of him; the love of the feet, to go to his Sanctuary; but the Lord doth require all these loves together in one: So as a man may truly say with David the prophet, Psal. 83.25. Whom have I in heaven but thee? And 〈◊〉 desire nothing in earth in comparison of thee. The Lord cannot abide that a man should have a heart, and a heart; one for God, another for the Devil. We can not serve God and Mammon: Mat. 6.24 we must not part our love to the world, the Flesh, or the Devil, but Christ must have all. Now the reasons are diverse, to show with what an ardent affection we must love CHRIST JESUS. First, because he is our Husband, Reason 1 and we are his Spouse, for so saith the Prophet Esay: Esay 54.5. He that made thee is thy Husband, whose name is the Lord of Hosts. And again, Reu. 19.7 Let us rejoice and give glory to him, for the Marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. Now our Spiritual service and worship of God is (as it were) a certain Marriage of our souls unto God. When we take upon us the profession of Christ jesus, as in Baptism; then we betrothe ourselves to Christ, as to an husband, entering into covenant with CHRIST, To keep us only to him unto our lives end. So then by this means, the Lord is become our husband, & we his Spouse. Now then, as an honest man can not endure that another man should have a portion in his wife; so will not Christ endure that any other should have with him a portion in his church, For he is a jealous God, Exodus 20. verse 5. So then the force of the reason standeth thus. God's people which are married unto CHRIST, must love CHRIST alone, because we are linked & married to him alone, as a wife to her husband, unto whom alone she is bound. Therefore if we forsake the Lord, and break the promise we made to him in Baptism, and betrothe ourselves unto others; then will he surely cast us off, give us a Bill of Divorcement, as shameless strumpets, and punish us for our unfaithfulness. Secondly, he loved us first Reason 2 and best, according to that of john; We love him, john 4.19 because he loved us first: Yea, he loved us first, when we were his enemies, and had made a voluntary separation between him and our souls, committing Spiritual fornication with sin and Satan: yea, as the Apostle Paul witnesseth, Eph. 2.4.5. Ye that were dead in trespasses and sins hath he quickened. And lest we should any whit doubt of his love, he hath manifested it, Revel. 1.6. in that He hath washed us from our sins in his Blood: Oh then, greater Love than this, can no man show. And therefore, seeing Christ hath loved thy Soul so dearly, as to suffer a cursed death, yea to shed his own heart Blood, to save thy soul: Oh how oughtest thou to love Christ again? If a man were taken by the Turks, and put to extreme slavery and bondage, where he should remain for ever, unless a great sum of money were paid for his ransom, the which he were never able to pay: how miserable were the estate of this man? But if one should come, that out of his mere love unto him, pitying his misery, that should pay his ransom, and set him free: who can express how much this poor wretch were bound unto him? We are all taken prisoners, and that not by the Turks, which only can but hold us in temporal bondage; but by Satan the Prince of darkness, where we should have endured, not a temporal, but a spiritual and eternal bondage and slavery, and that in hell for evermore. And nothing but only the blood of the Son of God could be our ransom: O, how should this work upon the affection of every Christian man and woman, and even bind us to love Christ again. Now what might move Christ, but only his love, to give himself to death for us? Surely, nothing that was in us. Ephe. 2.4.5 But God who is rich in mercy, through his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead by sins, hath quickened us together by Christ, by whose grace ye are saved. And again. 1. Ioh 3.16 Hereby have we perceived love, that he laid down his life for us. Ephes. 1.7. By whom (saith the Apostle) we have redemption through his blood, and therefore the love that Christ jesus hath first she●ed unto us, must constrain us to love Christ again. Reason 3 And lastly, because CHRIST JESUS is most excellent in himself, and therefore most worthy of our love: For so saith the Church of Christ, My beloved is white and ruddy, Cant. 5.10 the chief of ten thousand. In the world we see it common, that some are beloved, because they are fair and beautiful; some, because they are rich and wealthy; some, because they are wise and prudent; and some, because they are honourably descended. Now Christ jesus hath all of these. For what soever may affect a man's heart, and any way procure love, the same is Christ jesus fully and absolute without any shadow of mutability, or change: For wisdom, he is the fountain: for truth, he is the author of truth: for mercy, he is the storehouse of all mercy: for riches, he is the Lord of heaven and earth, even the storehouse of durable riches: and for beauty, he is the most holy and blessed son of God, full of grace and truth. Oh how may this serve to reprove Use 1 all carnal and profane Gospelers, worldly men, Epicures, covetous Cormorants who love any thing more than Christ jesus and his glorious Gospel, like the Gadarens, who preferred their hogs before Christ: yea one mess of pottage with Esau: that can be content to sell Christ for less than thirty pence: that love their filthy pleasures, eating, drinking, pride, uncleannenesse, etc. more than CHRIST and their own souls, like the Bethlemites, let Christ lie in the stable amongst beasts; for they can not afford him one corner in their hearts. Again, it is the sin of thousands, that profess Christ to be their Husband and Saviour, that yet break their covenant, and serve the world and the flesh: that pretend they love the Lord jesus Christ, and yet betrothe themselves to the world, the flesh, and the devil, and serve them. Now how could any man be content with this, That his wife should say she loves him, and yet sets her heart upon another man? So, how can we think that God will take it at our hands, if we will make show that we love Christ, and yet are ever dallying with the world, Christ's enemy? Oh he is a jealous God, and will never endure it at our hands. And lastly, by the rule of this Doctrine of the Papists here no less to be reproved; who so much rob God of his honour, calling upon Saints, and praying unto them; nay, preferring the virgin Marie before Christ himself; giving honour and adoration to Saints and Angels, making them Mediators and saviours: they shall find one day, that GOD will not put up this robbery at their hands; but will show his jealous and terrible anger against them, as most sacrilegious persons, and robbers. It must stir up every Christian Use 2 man to labour to find his heart ravished with the love of Christ jesus; so as he can say, out of the affection of his heart, O thou whom my soul loveth! so as if the question were demanded, what I love best? I can truly say, Phil. 3.7.8. I love Christ jesus more than the whole world: yea, I account all things but loss and dung to win Christ. And where men find this true affection & love of Christ in them, it is a certain sign of their salvation; that God hath cast his love upon them, that so the love of God draws love to him again. As the light of the Sun lights on the eye, and by it we see the Sun again. And as by the picture in the Wax, we know the Seal: so by our love to God, we know his love to us. O how should this cause every man and woman, and every mother's child amongst us, to examine their love towards Christ, that so they may gather some assurance unto their own souls, that Christ hath cast his love upon them. And to do this, ask me this question of thine own soul: Dost thou desire, Phil. 1.25. with the Apostle Paul, to be loosed, and to be with Christ? Tell me, Note. is it meat and drink unto thee to do the will of Christ? Is thy hand ever ready (according to thy ability) to bestow any thing upon Christ, & for the advancement of his glory? Dost thou labour in the place wherein thou livest, to advance the glorious Gospel of jesus Christ? Canst thou be content to undergo shame, disgrace, trouble, persecution and bonds; yea, death itself for Christ's sake? Doth the remembrance of his coming to judgement cheer up thy heavy soul? And dost thou cry with the spouse of Christ, Come Lord jesus, come quickly? These be marks and tokens whereby thou mayst discern whether thou dost love Christ jesus, yea or no. But because all men are ready to say that they love Christ, or else it were pity they should live, and the like; when indeed the love of Christ is not in them: Marks to discern our love to Christ. I will yet proceed a little further, and observe a few notes and marks of this pure and hearty love to Christ, which are most certain signs of grace. 1. By our love to his word. First, if we love Christ, we will love his word, delight in it, and esteem it above gold and precious stones. Psal. 119.67. Lord what love have I unto thy word (saith David) all the day long is my study in it. Yea, it is altogether impossible for a man to be religious, to fear God, and to love him, that hath no sound love, nor delight in the word of God: so that by our love to his word, we may judge of our love to Christ: No love nor delight in the word, surely no love nor delight in Christ: great love to the word, great love to Christ. In the valueing of this pearl, David's practice is notable, who made the Testimonies of God his heritage, Verse 111. and the very joy of his heart, and esteemed them above gold, yea above fine gold. And therefore seeing most men have no delight in the word, seldom or never hear it (unless it be for fashion sake) read it, or meditate in it day or night: it is a certain token that the love of Christ is not in them. 2. By our love to his Saints. Secondly, if we love Christ jesus with all our heart, we will love those whom he loves, his blessed members, true Christians. 1. john 3. Hereby (saith Saint john) we know that we are translated from darkness into light, because we love the brethren. David testifies of himself, All my delight is upon thy Saints. It is our duty to love all, but we must love the Saints with a peculiar and special love, as heirs with Christ, and members of the same body with us. Therefore seeing men generally hate the members of Christ, contemn them, and despise them; doth not this make it very apparent, that the love of Christ is not in them? For the world loves her own; john 15.19 But because I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Thirdly, if we love Christ jesus, 3. By our obedience we must show it by our obedience to his word, and to his holy Laws: for so saith Christ, If ye love me, joh. 14 23. keep my Commandments. Little obedience, little love; no obedience to Christ's will, no love, hearty obedience, hearty love. And therefore seeing generally men rebel against his word, and break his Commandments; though these men should swear they love Christ, yet are they liars, and the love of Christ is not in them. For, who can believe that a traitor can love his Prince? Fourthly, if we love Christ jesus, 4. By our suffering for Christ. we cannot endure to hear him blasphemed, railed on, reviled, his word contemned, or his Sabbaths profaned, but it will grieve us at the very heart, & we will (to the utmost of our power) defend his cause, as a loving child the cause of his father; and a faithful servant, the credit of his master. And withal, it will make us be content to endure some trial and persecution for his sake: yea, loss of liberty, wealth, riches, yea life itself, who hath so loved us, that he shed his blood for us. Thus much of the affection of the Church towards Christ jesus. Now we are to come to the petitions themselves. Show thou me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, etc. THe Church here, as in many other places of the holy Scriptures, compares Christ jesus to a good and faithful shepherd, as the Prophet Esay describes him, Esay 40. He will gather together his Lambs. And again, Behold, Ezech. 34. I will require my flock of the Shepherds, and I myself will feed my sheep, and cause them to rest quietly. This is acknowledged of the Prophet David: Psal. 23.1. The Lord is my shepherd, therefore I cannot want. Yea Christ doth thus entitle himself, saying; joh. 10.11. I 〈◊〉 the good shepherd, etc. Now the Church of Christ doth put up her request to this great Shepherd and Doctor of his Church, that he would be pleased to tell her where he feeds his sheep with the preaching of the Word, and the use Of the Sacraments, that so she may join with them, there to be fed and comforted. Quest. But, Object. was not this the true Church that moveth this question? what is then that other Church, or flock she inquires after? Resp. Ans. I answer: Howsoever the Church of God is but one in all the world, yet it hath diverse parts. As the Ocean sea, though but one, yet it is called by divers names, according to the place where it lies: Even so the Church of Christ, though but one, yet it hath divers parts, as the holy-ghost distinguisheth of it, Revel. 1.4. writing to the seven Churches which are in Asia: Now of the whole Church of Christ, some parts of it be at peace and rest, free from persecution, when other parts may suffer persecutions, molestations, and be vexed by the Devil and his instruments, whom he sets a work. Now in this place, the Church of God in persecution and great affliction, desieth to know of Christ, Where he feeds his sheep, that is, where the Church is at rest and peace, where the word is purely preached, the Sacraments duly administered, and Discipline duly performed, that she may join with them in the service of Almighty God. From this request and earnest Doctr. 2 suit of the Church unto Christ, to know where he doth feed his sheep, we learn that it is a true note of a sheep of Christ jesus, The true note of a sheep of Christ, to hunger and thirst after the word of God. to hunger and thirst after the word of GOD, to inquire where Christ feeds his flock, where the word is truly and faithfully preached, and the Sacraments truly administered. And this doubt our Saviour himself observeth to be the eare-marke of his sheep; john 10.27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: but the voice of a stranger will they not hear. This affection was in godly David, O Lord, how amiable are thy Tabernacles? how doth my soul long after thy Altars? O when shall I come & appear before the Lord in Zion? And this duty is imposed upon every Christian, to have an earnest affection unto the word of God. As when a man is hungry, the veins sucking moisture in the bottom of the stomach, he feels a pain which makes him desire meat: even so our souls void of grace, and nourishment unto eternal life, they should hunger and thirst after Christ and his righteousness, john 6.26. after his word, which is the Spiritual food of our souls. And till a man be hungry, he longs not for meat, he desires not food: so, till we see our wants, we never seek to have our souls fed with the word of God. Now in that so few desire the word of GOD, and so few esteem of it, it shows that very few do feel their want of food, very few can discern their misery, and wretched estate; but most men run on in sin, bless themselves in their evil ways, and never say, Alas, 1. Pet. 2.2. what have I done? we must desire the sincere milk of the word, as the infant the mother's breast; And as the Hart doth the rivers of waters, Psa. 42. and as the Church doth here; Show me, O show me where thou feedest thy flock! We should do as the earth doth in time of drought; she opens her mouth, begging and gaping until the Lord send a rain. The beggar never begs hard till he see his own want, and then he will spare no time, labour, nor words: so till we see our own wants, we will never seek for the spiritual food of our souls. But they be blessed which hunger and thirst after Righteousness, Mat. 5.6. though we think we be happy when we feel no want; as it is a common thing to say, I never doubted of my salvation, I would be loath my conscience should trouble me, etc. But certainly it is the beginning of grace, to find ourselves to want grace. Those that do eat meat with a full stomach, it doth them least good: So they which are full, and feel not the want of the word, it doth them little good. Reason 1 And the reason is, that if we do not hunger and thirst after the Word of GOD, we can never enjoy the variety of all those good things that are treasured up in the Word to make us truly happy; forasmuch as all good things which we have and do enjoy in this present life, they are appendences to the Word; by which Word, and by Prayer, they are sanctified to us. Now it is got and obtained no other way, but by thirsting after it. As the blessed Virgin saith in her Song, Luke 1. v. 53. He filleth the hungry with good things, and the rich he hath sent empty away. Which may serve to comfort the poor children of God, which show their thirsting desire, by their great labour and travel, to hear the Word preached, though they meet with mockings and scoffings for it, by such as are far from thirsting after it of themselves. Reason 2 Secondly, if we should not eagerly seek after the word of God, we should never know how much we are beholding to the Lord for the manifold graces, and blessings, which we receive daily from our most merciful God thereby. For so saith Solomon: The person that is full despiseth the honeycomb; Prou. 27.7 but unto the hungry soul, every bitter thing is sweet. So that when we shall see our spiritual poverty without the Word, that we should even faint & starve, and pine away, it will then make us prize the excellency of that benefit we enjoy, when we have the same truly and sincerely Preached and Taught amongst us. Use 1 Seeing this longing desire after Christ, and his Word, is the Eare-marke, and the Wol-marke, the Badge, and the Brand of the Sheep of Christ, the true Church and children of God: this doctrine than maketh a plain distinction betwixt the Sheep of Christ, and the stinking goats of Satan. The Sheep of Christ long after their Shepherd; desire to be instructed by him; hunger after the Word preached and taught; wish for the Sabaoth, inquire where Christ doth feed his Sheep, in the green pasture of his Word and Sacraments: but the goats of Satan loath the word, and the preaching of it, They tread down the pasture of the Sheep, Ezech. 34. yea they are weary of it, they will not go to the door to hear, Malac. 2.13. they can be content as well ro want it, as ro have it: so as hereby we may judge our own estates, whether we be the true Sheep of Christ, or the stinking goats of Satan; the children of God, or the limbs of the devil. Dost thou love the word of GOD more than thine appointed food? Tell me, dost thou desire to be taught in the Word? inquirest thou where Christ doth feed his Sheep with good Pasture? And dost thou delight in the Word? john 10.27. These are the earemarks of Christ's Sheep, and may minister comfort unto thy soul, that thou art one of those that belong to his Fold. But if on the contrary part thou loath the word of God, and hast no desire at all to tread in GOD'S House, but spendest the Saboth irreligiously, vainly, and profanely, at the Dice, at Cards, Bowls, or Tables: O deceive not thy own soul. It is a sign thou art none of Christ's sheep, but one of the stinking goats of Satan: and there will come a day of separation, when Christ jesus the great Shepherd will divide the Sheep from among the Goats, when he shall set the sheep on the right hand, and the goats on the left, Mat. 25.33. This Doctrine doth serve to Use 2 reprove three sorts of men: First, Atheists, Three sorts of men reproved. which blear out the tongue at all Religion, and christian Piety, making a mock of God, of his Word, 1 Atheists. and of all holy Duties; That think it lost labour to be religious, and that there is no good got by hearing Sermons, and leading of a godly life. Oh it hath ever been the cursed thoughts of man's heart to think so; as was used in the time of the Prophet Malachi; It is lost labour to serve the Lord, and what good cometh there by serving of God? Ah poor souls, all this while they can minister no comfort unto their own souls, that they are the sheep of CHRIST but a fearful expectation of judgement. For in what a miserable and wretched estate is that man, which knoweth not whether he be in the estate of Grace, or not? A Sheep of Christ, or a Goat of Satan? with what cheer can he eat one meals meat, or sleep one night, that wants this assurance? O then, let such be warned betimes, that if they look to have any comfort in death, and after death, that now they labour to be approved for the Sheep of Christ. 2 Papists. Secondly, the Papists which bar the people from the preaching of the Word, and keep them in miserable ignorance and blindness: And all others which seek by all means possible to hinder CHRIST'S sheep from endeavouring to be taught, which otherwise would inquire Where Christ feedeth his Sheep: where the Word is truly preached and taught, and the Sacraments duly administered. These are like the Scribes and Pharisees, Who shut up the Kingdom of heaven; that will not enter themselves, nor suffer them that would. Oh, what sacrilege doth that adulterous church of Rome commit, that take from the people, the key of Knowledge, yea and nuzzle them in ignorance, teaching, that it is sufficient to believe as the Church doth believe. Rom. 12.2 Phil. 1.10. Whereas the Scriptures do require of all men the spirit of discerning, Eph. 5.15. Try the Spirits whether they be of God: that so they may allow of those things that are good, and be without offence until the day of Christ: otherwise, if they follow their false teachers, they are sure to perish, Mat. 15.14 For when the blind lead the blind, they both fall into the pit of destruction. 3 Carnal Protestant's Thirdly, all carnal Protestants, and secure worldlings: who, although they do inquire where they may buy a good bargain, or get a good purchase, and labour for that; yet never inquire where Christ feeds his Sheep. Oh, it is a wonder to see how men do covet pleasures, profits and preferments: these they seek for with might and main. But for the ministery of the Word, to have it truly taught them, that their souls may be saved: this they esteem not, they look not after it. Surely, by this they declare to the whole world, that they are none of Christ's sheep: For if they were, They would hear his voice and follow him, john 10.27 Seeing the true Church of Doctr. 3 God doth here seek to Christ JESUS to be taught and directed; The Church of God doth acknowledge jesus Christ for her chief shepherd we learn that it is the duty of the true Church of God, to acknowledge Christ jesus alone, for their great Pastor and Shepherd, the only Head and chief Doctor of his Church, and therefore to be ruled by him, and his Word alone, to be content to be led and guided by this great Pastor and Shepherd of the Church, as in john 10.28 I am the True Shepherd, and do know my Sheep, and am known of mine. This is acknowledged by Peter in the behalf of all the Disciples, john 6.68 Master, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And CHRIST hath promised to be present with his Church, Even to the end of the world. Eph. 2.22 Colos. 2.19 Matth. 28. And again he saith, that Where two or three are gathered together in my name, I will be in the midst amongst them. Now the duty of Christ this great Shepherd, it standeth in two things: First, to govern his Church, prescribing unto them Laws, binding the consciences of all his Members: And secondly, by his grace, to quicken, and to put a spiritual life into them: So that they shall be able to say, That they live not, but CHRIST in them. Reason. And the reason is to be marked and considered, which serve likewise for the confirmation of this point of Doctrine unto us, is because the work of salvation is wholly and only wrought by him, and no part thereof is reserved to any creature; as the Apostle witnesses, when he saith, That amongst men there is no other name given under heaven whereby we may be saved, but only by jesus Christ: And the Author of the Epistle to the Hebrews witnesseth the same thing, when he saith, that he is able perfectly to save them that come unto God by him. This condemns the Church Use 1 of Rome, as no true Church of God. First, because they will not content themselves with Christ jesus to be their great Pastor, and general Shepherd; but they have set up the Pope his Vicar, and matched him, yea preferred him before jesus Christ. Nay, they will not be content with that pasture which Christ alloweth for his Sheep; the green pastures of his holy Word, and clear streams of his blessed Gospel; but they will feed on the filthy Trash, and dirty Drugs of their own devising: the fond and foolish devices, inventions, and traditions of men, of their Popes & Cardinals: So as they declare to the world they are no sheep of CHRIST, In that they will not hear his voice and follow him, john 10.17. nor be content with the food he hath prepared for them, but feed on the filthy and foul puddles of man's traditions. Use 2 This may serve to admonish all the faithful Ministers of jesus Christ, which stand in Christ's steed: That they teach nothing but the truth of God; wholesome doctrine, not their own devices and dreams: but that which they persuade themselves Christ would speak, if he were present. So on the contrary part, you that are the hearers must content yourselves with the Pastures of God's Word, the plain and the pure Preaching of the word of God, and not to be carried away to listen after strange Shepherds, that teach erroneous doctrine that may corrupt; or the devices of man, which may tickle the ear, and not work grace in the heart. And such are the vile Doctrines of the Church of Rome, which will rather bane and poison men's souls, then edify them; as their doctrine of Merits, Invocation of Saints, praying for the Dead, and a thousand the like. The which, because they have no footing in God's word, are here condemned, as no wholesome pasture for God's sheep to feed upon. Thus much for the Churches first request. The second followeth. And where thou causest them to lie down at Noon. FOr the better understanding of these Words, we must know, how that it was the manner of the Shepherds in those hot Countries, to drive their sheep to the pasture in the morning; and after, when the Sun waxed hot, to drive them to the water and at noon to carry them to some shadow, where they might rest in the heat of the day, lest they should be annoyed with the scorching heat and beams of the Sun. So here the Church of God and the Spouse of Christ, compares Christ to a faithful and true Shepherd, and entreats him to tell her where he doth cause his Flock, that is, his faithful people, to find shelter and comfort in the heat of persecution, when the Sun is hottest at Noon day; that is, in the greatest and hottest persecution of the Church of God, in the most dangerous and troublesome trials and times of great extremity, which is here meant by Noon day; when the Sun is most hot and scorching, according to that of our Saviour, speaking of one sort of evil hearers: And when the Sun was up, Mat. 13.6. and v. 21. they were parched, and for lack of rooting, withered away. From whence we observe a twofold instruction. 1. That the Church of God sometimes is in the very heat of persecution. 2. That Christ the good Shepherd even then forsakes not his, burr at Noonday, even in the extremity of the same, provides a shadow and place of comfort, and refreshing, for those that are his sheep. object 3 The Church of God sometimes is in the very heat of persecution First, we are taught here, that it is the will of GOD, that his Church sometimes should be tried: And it is his will that sometimes his People should undergo persecutions, according to the rule of the Apostle S. Paul, 2. Tim. 3.12 Whosoever will live godly in Christ jesus, must suffer persecution. This is expressly taught by the Prophet David, Psal. 34.19 Great are the troubles of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth him out of all, This was the condition of the Israelites in Egypt, who remained there a long time in cruel bondage under Pharaoh, Exod. 1.12. And in hester's time, how were the poor people of God in the heat of persecution! Est. 2.23. This was the State of the whole Church of the Hebrews, described thus, That Some were racked and would not be delivered, Hebr. 11.35. etc. that they might receive a better resurrection: And others have been tried by mockings, and scourge; yea moreover by blood and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were hewn asunder, they were burned, slain with the Sword, wandered up and down in sheeps skins and in goats skins, being destitute, afflicted, and tormented, whom the world was not worthy of, etc. This we might further consider in the examples of Abraham, Isaac, jacob, job, joseph, David, jeremy, and the like, whose lives are a plentiful storehouse to testify this truth, That the people of God do many times endure manifold afflictions, and sundry trials. And this have we had experience of in this Land, in the days of Queen Marie, when the Sun shone hot, and that the fire of persecution was great, to the wasting of the bodies of many a dear Child of God: So that if we hope to live with Christ in the Church Triumphant, we must first die with him in the Church Militant. For none shall reign with Christ there, that have not first suffered with him here: Nor none shall have their tears wiped from them in heaven, that have not first shed them on the earth. Thus having seen the Doctrine, that it is the State and condition of God's church here upon earth, to undergo sometimes many and grievous afflictions. Now let us see the Reasons, that so the Doctrine may leave the greater impression in every one of our affections. In regard of God's enemies Reason 1 themselves which know not the Father, nor JESUS CHRIST his Son; they have nothing to stop and to stay their rage and malice, as our Saviour witnesseth, when he saith: They shall excommunicate you, yea the time shall come, that whosoever killeth you, will think that he doth GOD service: And these things will they do, because they have not known the Father, nor yet me: So that it is no marvel, though the enemies of gods Church do rage against the faithful servants of God, being stirred up thereunto by the instigation of Satan; seeing that they know not God, nor jesus Christ, john 15.19 but have their eyes blinded by Satan the prince of this world. Reason 2 GOD suffereth his children many times to undergo some sharp and bitter trial of affliction, and to suffer even the burning heat of Persecution, to make known the Virtues and Graces of his Children: as Saint Paul saith, It is necessary that afflictions should come, that the elect may be manifest who they be. As it is not possible to know the valour of the Soldier if he lie always in the Camp, and never come into the Field▪ So is it impossible to know the Courage, Patience, Obedience, Zeal, Love, etc. of his children, till trial come. And therefore God would have Abraham tempted, to make his faith known. So jobs patience, David's piety, Paul's courage, etc. The earth which is not tilled and broken up, will yield nothing but briars and thorns: And Vines will wax wild if they be not pruned and cut. Even so the unruly affections of our hearts, as so many noisome weeds, would quickly overrun the whole man, if the Lord, by sanctified afflictions, should not manure us. It is good therefore (said jeremy) or a man to bear the yoke in his Lam. 3.27. youth. And in another place the same Prophet saith, jer. 48.11. Moab keeps his scent, because he was not powered from vessel to vessel, but hath been at rest ever since his youth. There are beside these, diverse other reasons, wherefore the Lord doth thus exercise his dear children in this life, with crosses and afflictions: as to humble them for sins past, and to prevent sin in them for the time to come: Because, when we shall perceive, that the only weapon whereby Satan woundeth our Souls, is sin, it will make us repent of sins that are past, and wary of sins for the time to come: And also to humble the pride of our hearts; For knowledge puffeth up; and in whatsoever thing we go before our brethren, naturally we wax proud of the same. Now the Lord by these afflictions, like a skilful Physician, let's out the superfluous humours of pride and vainglory, when we shall see what we are by nature. Well, let us make some use of this Doctrine to ourselves. Use 1 We have had a long Morning, and yet are in peace and rest: but it will not ever be Morning; the Sun will rise and it will be Noon day, the Lord will have a time of trial. It is the Lords usual dealing, after long time of peace, to bring some trials, that the Elect and true Christian may be discerned. Of all things in the world the Lord cannot endure that his glorious Gospel should be contemned, and despised, as it is at this day amongst us: Oh then, seeing that we must even look for a trial; Let us prepare and arm ourselves with all needful virtues, with patience, with humility, with courage, zeal, etc. Alas! any thing will serve the turn now to be a Christian; a small matter: But if in the time of trial we shrink, Luk. 14.25 or else yield unto the enemy, than we shall show that we are but hypocrites and cowards. Oh then, let us be good Soldiers now in the time of peace, provide and sharpen our weapons against the time of war: Let us cast it what it will cost us to be the Sheep of Christ, loss of Lands, livings, gold, silver, liberty, country, yea life itself; yet to resolve by the help of God, never to be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, let persecution come never so hot upon us. Secondly, we learn hereby, Use 2 not to promise unto ourselves worldly Peace and Prosperity, while we do live here. For this life is the time of a Christian man's warfare; neither must we look to find Heaven upon Earth: for if we will be Christ's Disciples, we must take up his Cross and follow him; we must not dream of a victory before we fight. For it is the lot of the godly to suffer persecution; yet this may be the comfort and stay of a Christian Soul in the midst of them all, That the Lord will dispose of them so, as that they shall work to the best to them that love God, and never departed from us, but shall leave a blessing behind them, so that we shall be sure of this, that we shall gain more in the Spirit, than we can lose in the flesh. Use 3 Thirdly, seeing it is the will of God, that his own true Church and faithful children shall be tried, and undergo the heat of persecution: let us here learn to be wise, neither to think that we are out of God's favour if we be tried, or to think the worse of the Gospel of Christ, because the cross and trial goes with it. We are ready to think the Lord loves us not; or that the Gospel the which we profess is not a good profession; because we see it hated, persecuted, and railed on by wicked men. Well, it is that which God will have, it was the condition of Christ jesus before us: and unless we look that the servant should be greater than the Master, it must be ours. Secondly, we learn from Doctr. 4 hence, Christ leaves not his Church, in the heat of persecution, but provides comfort for them. that though it may be sometimes Noonday with the Church of God, hot and bloody persecution, yet Christ hath ever a shelter and shadow for his people; He hath a Lair for them, a place of shelter, shadow, and comfort; he is ever present with his Church and people in the hottest times of persecutions and afflictions, to comfort them, to refresh them, to ease them of their misery, to deliver them. This the Lord expresseth in the Prophet Esay 54.7.8. For a little time have I forsaken thee, but with great compassion will I gather thee: for a moment in mine anger I hid my face from thee, for a little season, but with everlasting mercy have I had compassion on thee. Psalm 2. This doth the Prophet David make manifest, that notwithstanding the rage and malice of God's enemies, He that dwelleth in heaven shall laugh them to scorn, the Lord shall have them in derision. This comfort is excellently set forth by the Prophet Esay, when he saith in cha. 43.1.2. But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O jacob, and he that form thee, O Israel, fear not: for I have redeemed thee: I have called thee by thy name, thou art mine: when thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee, and through the floods, that they do not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the very fire, thou shalt not be burnt, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee: For I am thy Lord God. Thus provided he for his Church in the days of Hester, Ester 3. when they could see no means to escape. What a mischief had Herod invented against the Messiah; so secretly, Matt. 2.13 as that he disclosed the secret of his heart to none, but pretended to the Wise men, that his intent was to worship Christ? yet the Lord did bring his device to nought; and joseph and Mary, with the child jesus, was delivered. Acts 12.16 Peter being cast into prison, should even the next day have been executed; yet through the prayers of the Church, was delivered. This Doctrine is further cleared by the examples of joseph, job, the Church in Egypt, Cen. 41.14 Exo. 12▪ 41 Dan. 6.23. Dan. 3. Daniel, the three children, Sidrach, Mishach: and Abed●●go, who for a time endured shame and reproach of the cross: yet afterwards the Lord returned unto them when the time of refreshing came. So that howsoever God's children may be under the heat of persecution for a time, it shall be but for a time; he will not leave them destitute of his help, and comfort for ever, but will, in the end, deliver them. The Reasons serving to confirm this Doctrine, are manifest. Reason 1 First, consider the Titles by which GOD is called; as a Father, to show the care that he taketh over his Church, as his children, to provide for them, and to govern them. For what father will not save his child, if possible he can, from fire, or water, or some other eminent danger? Rom. 8.15 john 10 1. Matt. 7.11. Now then, if we that are evil, know how to help our children, how much more shall our heavenly Father, that knoweth all things, give good things unto his children? Again, Christ is called by the name of a Shepherd, as the Church doth confess in this place. Now, will the Shepherd see the sheep go astray, and not bring them into the right way again? or suffer the wolf to devour the sheep, and not rescue them? And what shall we think that Christ the true Shepherd of his Church will be more careless of his Flock, whom he hath purchased unto himself with no less price than with his own heart Blood; then an earthly man is of his Sheep? Seeing then that Christ jesus is the King of his Church, & the shepherd of his Sheep, we need not doubt but that he will defend his Church, and save his sheep, so that none shallbe able to destroy them, or take them out of his hands. Secondly, our weakness and natural corruptions are not hidden from the LORD: He knoweth whereof we are made, he remembreth that we are but dust. And therefore saith the Apostle, God is faithful, which will not suffer us to be tempted above that we are able, but will even give the issue with the temptation, that we shall be able to bear it. So then, whether we consider the Office of Christ as a shepherd to keep his Church; or the mercy of Christ, that is ever ready to cover the wants of his Servants, making their afflictions to be but momentary: in these two respects we may safely gather, that the Lord will never forsake his children, nor leave them in their dangers, but provide for them both shelter and comfort, when they shall find the heat of afflictions to shine most hottest upon them. The use serves to direct us to Use. 1 whom we should go in time of trouble and great distress: for if Christ be our shepherd we are to fly to him; He is a faithful preserver of them that trust in him. Shall we go to Saints or to Angels? Doubtless Abraham is ignorant of us, and Israel knoweth us not, Esa. 63.16. What then, shall we trust in our chariots or in our horses? doubtless a horse is counted but a vain thing to save a man, Psal. 37.17. Surely, we cannot honour him more than when we depend on him, and rest upon his mercy. Thus David behaved himself in all his extremities, flying unto God as a sure refuge, Psa. 91.2.3 I will say to the Lord, O my hope, & my fortress, He is my God, in him will I trust, He will deliver me from the snare of the Hunter, and from the noisome pestilence: His ears are always open to the cries of his children, he putteth their tears into his bottle. So long therefore as we have a voice to call upon GOD, or a heart to sigh and groan unto him, we have comfort and assurance to be delivered, and that he will not leave us nor forsake us in danger. Use 2 Hear is matter of endless comfort unto the Church and children of God, that we know that the Lord jesus Christ promiseth that he will provide a Lair for us, a place of comfort and refreshing, a shadow even at Noon day in the heat of bloody persecutions. Many indeed are our infirmities, fears, cares, sorrows, and troubles, yet in midst of them all, the child of God may say with the Prophet; Why art thou cast down (O my soul) and why art thou so disquieted within me? O wait on God, for I will yet give him thanks: He is my present help and my God, Psal. 42.5. O then let us be constant: let us comfort ourselves in Christ jesus, let us not for fear or danger deny CHRIST and his Gospel; for CHRIST will be a shelter unto us, to refresh us, and deliver us. This showeth the most woeful Use 3 and desperate estate of all wicked and ungodly men, who being out of God's favour, not believing in Christ, nor repenting of their sins, in time of persecution, when the Sun waxeth hot; Alas, they shall not know where to hide their heads, for they shall find no shelter, nor comfort, nor no place of refuge: For Christ is a shelter only to them that believe in him, and obey him. And therefore thou which art a wicked man, an impenitent sinner, a profane person: Alas, what wilt thou do? and which way wilt thou turn thee in the time of trouble and calamity, when the Sun waxeth hot in the heat of persecution and scorching trial? Whither then wilt thou run for shelter? Alas, thou shalt then be as a mad beast, which in the heat of the day runs up and down, and findeth no covert. So shall all wicked and impenitent sinners have no place of succour, but lie open to all GOD'S judgements; be scorched, Ezec. 9.4 yea even consumed with the fire of God's displeasure; when the righteous, those which are in Christ jesus shall find shelter. Now followeth the Reason which she useth to move the Lord jesus Christ to grant her request, The church's reason of her request. taken from the great peril and danger she was like to fall into; Namely, lest being left without his direction and comfort, she be constrained to Turn aside to the Flocks of the companions: that is to say, to leave the true church, and worship of God, and join with the false church, to commit idolatry, called here, the Flocks of the companions: Not for that they are either Christ his companions, or the companions of his church and people; but because they account themselves so; yea, they think, and call themselves CHRIST'S companions. And if this thing should come to pass through want of Christ's assistance to direct her, and to comfort her in persecution; than it shall not be for his honour, not her good. This is the sum and substance of her Reason. Doctr. 5 Hence we are taught, that it is altogether impossible for men and women, It is altogether impossible for men to hold out in time of trial, that are not assisted by God. ever to stand out in the brunt of persecution, unless they be taught of God, and comforted by his Spirit. And hence it is that the Prophet David, a man after Gods own Heart, and endued with a singular portion of GOD'S Spirit, doth earnestly beg and crave at God's hand the enlightening of God's Spirit, and desireth to be taught of him; Open mine eyes that I may see the wondrous things of thy Law. Psal. 119.8 And again, 27.34.73. Teach me thy Statutes. And again, Make me to understand the way of thy Precepts, etc. Yea, CHRIST tells the jews which murmured against him, because he said, that no man could come to him unless his Father drew him, that all the Elect are taught of God, joh. 6.45. And this made Paul to pray for the Ephesians, ch. 1.17. that God would give them the Spirit of Wisdom, and to enlighten their minds, that they might know what is the hope of their calling, and what the riches are of his glorious inheritance. A notable direction unto all sorts of men, how to behave themselves when they shall come into the house of God; namely, not to rest on any natural gift whatsoever it be, wisdom, learning, wit, memory, etc. For the wisdom of the flesh is enmity with God; Rom. 8. 1. Cor. 1.21 But to go out of ourselves, and to seek the Lord in humility, and denial of themselves; and then the Lord will give us a discerning spirit, that we shall not be deceived. If any man (saith Christ) will do my Father's will, he shall know of the Doctrine, whether it be of GOD, john 7.17. And again, Christ promiseth his Disciples, being now to leave them, and to go to his Father, that the Spirit of Truth should lead them into all truth. Reasons. And the reasons are, First, we are all blind, and by nature can hardly see into the truth, unless Christ direct us by his Spirit; for so saith Solomon, Prou. 14.12. The ways that seem right unto us, the issues thereof are the ways of death. It is a part of our misery, that we are turned every one unto his own way. Esay 53.6 Secondly, when we know it, Alas, we are of ourselves so weak, and flesh and blood will be so unwilling to suffer for Christ his sake, that unless the Lord do assist us, we shall not be able to undergo the least temptation that shall be laid upon us. And lastly, the enemies of God's truth are in their generation, so wise, and so subtle, coming unto us in Sheep's clothing, to deceive us, that of ourselves we shall easily be drawn away to believe lies. In all these respects, we may safely conclude the former Doctrine, that it is impossible for us to hold out in the day of trial, unless we be assisted by the LORDS holy spirit. Use 1 This showeth, that if trial do come, and persecution shall arise for CHRIST'S sake, and the gospels sake: Alas, most men would yield to any Religion, to Popery, Idolatry, Superstition, to the flocks of the companions, to the church of Rome, to flat Idolatry. For alas, they know not the truth; They are not taught of GOD; They be blind and ignorant, and will easily believe and embrace any Religion. Use 2 This must stir up every true christian, man and woman, to pray to CHRIST as the church doth here; That he would teach us by his Spirit, that he would open our eyes that we might see the truth, and that he would give us hearts to believe it, to love it, and to live and die in it: That he would give us the Spirit of Discerning, 1. john 4.1 To try the Spirits, whether they be of God, that so we may discern the truth from falsehood. Yea, we must so labour to be fast grounded in the Truth, Matt. 7.26 that no wind, nor weather may remove us, That we be sure to lay a good foundation, that we do dig deep into our own hearts, build on the Rock, To hate Popery and all Idolatry, to loath it as the Doctrine of Devils. Though they say they be the true Church, and the companion of Christ, yet be they the Synagogue of Satan: The main points of their Religion being clean contrary unto the word of God: as are their Doctrine of Merits, Invocation of Saints, worshipping of Images, praying for the dead, Sacrifice of the Mass; that so we may, for ever, stand out against that cursed and damnable doctrine of the Church of Rome, Yea, let us entreat the Lord that he would never suffer it to get head again in this Land: notwithstanding we have deserved as great a judgement; but especially that he keep us that we never join with them in that bloody Religion. Use 3 It condemns all those who are ready, either for fear of persecution, or by blindness and ignorance, to embrace any Religion; or join with any Church; who to keep their livings, hold their Lands, to enjoy their honours and pleasures, would turn as doth the wind, and embrace any Religion; join with Papist, jew, Turk, yea the devil himself for living sake. Oh! the true Church of Christ fear themselves, and their weakness, that they should be drawn away, and seduced to embrace false religion: And therefore they doubting the worst, and fearing the corruption that is in their own hearts, pray unto Christ, that they may not be left unto themselves, but that they may find strength from him to withstand them. The end of the first Sermon. A Fold for Christ's SHEEP. THE SECOND SERMON. CANT. 1.7. 7 If thou know not, O thou fairest amongst women, get thee forth by the steps of the Flock, and feed thy Kids by the Tents of the Shepherds. WE have heard before of the earnest request of the Church unto Christ, That he would in mercy show her where he feeds his Flock, and where he provideth comfort for them in time of trouble. Hear is the most kind, loving, and gracious answer of Christ jesus unto the Request of his Church: Parts of the Text. in the which note three things. 1 His exceeding love and kindness, in that he calls her, the fairest among women. 2 His gentle reproof of her, If thou know not, q.d. This is very strange, that thou which art the true Church, shouldest not know where Christ feeds his sheep. 3 His direct Answer to her request; wherein he doth answer her to the full: If thou wouldst know where I feed my sheep, that so thou mayst feed with them, and find consolation unto thy Soul; then thou must go in the steps of the Flock: That is, thou must embrace the Faith, Religion, the worship and service of God, the which my ancient church from the beginning have embraced: The Faith, Religion, the Worship and Service of GOD, which my ancient Servants, Abraham, Isaac, and jacob have done, and tread in their steps. Secondly, thou must place thy Tent, where the shepherds have done, the Patriarches, Prophets, and Apostles of CHRIST, their doctrine taught before. This is the sum and substance of Christ's answer unto his Church. First, observe here, how Christ describes his true Church and Spouse: He giveth her a most kind and loving name, expressing his kind and singular love unto her: O thou the fairest among women! Quest. Object. But this may seem strange: for the Church confessed before, that she was black and Sunburnt, deformed, etc. How then can Christ call her, the fairest amongst women? Ans. The Church, Resp. and every true Believer, are black and deformed in themselves, vile and unclean, and they can see no beauty in themselves, but are blemished yea and stained with sins original and actual: But as they be sanctified by his Spirit, washed in his Blood, and clothed in his Righteousness, they be fair and beautiful in the sight of Almighty God, because Christ hath washed them from all their sins in his Blood, and covered them with the pure robes of his own Righteousness; decked and adorned them with the holy and heavenly graces of his Spirit, knowledge, faith, repentance, zeal, patience, etc. According to that speech that the Lord himself useth, Ezech. 16. thou art fair through that beauty of mine, which I have put into thee. Doctr. 6 Here mark the endless love of Christ jesus unto his poor church and people, Christ esteems of his church as if they had no sin that esteems so highly of them, as if they had no spot of sin or uncleanness: though they in themselves be black, deformed, and polluted; yet all those who do truly repent, embrace jesus Christ, and believe in him, that are washed from their sins, sanctified by his Spirit, and obey his will; all these are fair, yea most beautiful in his eyes. He will not look upon their sins and blemishes, but wink at them, so long as they endeavour and desire to do his will. This is confessed by wicked Balaam, when he saw that no policy or device could take any place against the Church of God: He seethe no iniquity in jacob, he beholdeth no transgression in Israel, Nu. 23.21 Again, how goodly are thy tents, O jacob, and thy tabernacles O Israel, as the valleys that are stretched out, etc. Num. 24.5. So that the nature and condition of the true Church far exceeds all other societies of men whatsoever, and is precious and dear unto Christ. Hereunto cometh the titles and commendations given unto the Church so often in this most excellent book of the Canticles; Cant. 2.2. She is as the Roe of the field, the Lily of the Valley, the Fairest amongst Women, an Orchard of Pomegranates, a Fountain of Gardens, and 4 13. and 5.9. a well of springing waters, the Spouse and Sister of Christ, the Beauty of the Earth, the Glory of the world, a Lily among Thorns, etc. And again, Thou art all fair my Love, and there is no spot in thee. These, and the like examples, whereof the Scripture is full, all serve to confirm the everlasting truth of this Doctrine unto us: how dear and precious the Church is in Christ's sight, that of all Societies and Assemblies of men in the world, none are more excellent and worthy, none more amiable and lovely, none more beautiful and precious than the Church of God, the Spouse of Christ. Reason 1 And the Reason of the Doctrine is apparent: man was first cast out of Paradise for sin, neither is there any thing that doth hinder his return, but only sin; for it is sin that makes us execrable to the Lord, and doth hinder all good things from us. Psal 38.4 For, as long as sin remains, it is as a weighty burden, to press down a sinner into hell; and the wages and stipend of it is eternal death. Therefore, Romans. 6 if sin be taken away and pardoned, as it is from all the Elect, what should hinder their happiness? God hath against them no matter of displeasure; and the obedience of Christ jesus being imputed unto them, heaven can not be denied unto them, but they must needs be saved. Secondly, Christ jesus doth Reason 2 esteem highly of his Church; and the Church is most excellent in herself, because in it alone salvation is to be found, and no where else. When the Lord brought the great and general deluge over the face of the whole earth, What place was there left more excellent than the Ark, in the which, Noah and his Family were saved, and out of the which the whole world beside perished? What was that Ark but a Type and Figure of Christ's Church, wherein salvation is to be found, and out of the which there is no salvation to be looked for? Seeing therefore that remission of sins is proper only to Christ's Church, and that therein is salvation and eternal life to be found, we may safely therefore conclude, that the estate of Christ's Church, and of every member thereof, is most excellent and blessed. The uses of this Doctrine is Use 1 excellent, as the nature of the Church is. First then, seeing that Christ will thus pass by the sins of his children, and judge them fair, without any spot and blemish of sin, if they do truly repent, and embrace Him, and his Righteousness, by faith; Here is matter of endless comfort to every poor child of God. Note. Dost thou repent of thy sins, and art truly humbled for them? Dost thou embrace CHRIST JESUS for the pardon of them? Hath God sanctified thy heart by his Spirit, so as thou hatest every wicked way, and dost desire and endeavour to obey God his will in all his Commandments? Well then, comfort thyself, and cheer up thine own soul; Christ jesus will cover all thy sins, they shall never be laid to thy charge: but he will wrap thee in his own righteousness, whereby thou shalt appear fair and beautiful in his sight. Indeed many a poor child of God, looking on their own infirmities, and manifold corruptions, see themselves to be black indeed, deformed and stained with sin; it grieveth them that they do hang down their heads, and go drooping all their days, striving and also struggling with their rebellious hearts and vile corruptions, and think that CHRIST JESUS cares not for them, cannot love them, being so defiled with sin. But I say again, Be not discouraged; for if thou dost repent of them, believe in Christ, hate thy sins, and prayest often unto God to give thee power to withstand them, using all godly means to withstand them, Christ jesus will cover them, and pass by them all, as he did deal with David, Peter, etc. Oh then how carefully ought all men daily endeavour themselves to be the members of this Society, that so they may have a part in all these excellent prerogatives? and then howsoever the world do esteem of them, counting them miserable, grinding at them with their teeth, and nodding at them with their heads, and every way contumeliously reproaching them; yet are they dear and precious in the sight of Christ, who hath redeemed them with the ransom of his own blood. Let us learn by Christ's example Use 2 here, that if we see any good thing in the child of Almighty God, to commend it, and to embrace it: and if we see any blemish or infirmity, that we wink at it, and cover the same with the cloak of Love; and not as the manner of wicked and ungodly men; who though they see many good gifts and graces in GOD'S children, as knowledge, faith, patience, love, zeal, etc. pass by them all; and if they shall espy but one blemish, or infirmity, or weakness, by and by they blaze it abroad with open mouth, note them with a black coal, calling them Puritans, Precisians, Hypocrites, and the like; reviling them in a most odious manner; like a Coorrector of a Book, pass by all that is well, and if but one fault, find that out; like the horse-Flie, passing by many flowers, and sweet herbs, lights upon some noisome sore: these are not like unto CHRIST, but to their sire the Devil, who is the Accuser of the Brethren. Thus much for the exceeding love and kindness of Christ jesus toward his church, in that he calls her by this kind appellation, The fairest amongst women. Secondly, his gentle reproof of her, If thou know not: q. d. This seemeth strange, 2 Christ's gentle reproof. that thou shouldest be ignorant where I do feed my sheep, where my truth and gospel is truly preached, and sound professed: But if thou know not, The church of God sometimes may be at that strait as not to discern the truth. I will direct Doctr. 7 thee, and show thee how thou shalt find it out. Hence we are taught, that the church of God, and true believers, may sometimes be so blinded, and left to themselves, that they stand at a stagger, and do hardly know which is true religion, Where Christ doth feed his Flock, where the word is faithfully preached, & sound professed. For we are all of us ready to err by nature. How apt are we in matters that do concern our Souls, to be mistaken? partly, through our own blindness, ignorance, and carelessness, in not searching of the Truth, and trying of the spirits: and partly, by the subtle policy of the devil, who is God's Ape, and so like him in many things. as that it is hard to discern his slights and falsehoods. Wicked men, false teachers, lying prophets, set such a face and show on their errors, and bear them out with such a countenance, credit, and authority: and the truth is so neglected, plain, and simple, trodden under foot; that it is hard for a man, yea the true Church of God sometimes, to discern where Christ feedeth his Flock. 1. Reg. 18.12. When as Elias was left alone, and Baal's four hundred and fifty prophets, who could almost then discern the worship of GOD from Idolatry, when all was corrupted? So when Michaiah told the truth, and Ahab had four hundred false Prophets, it was hatd to discern the truth of God from the lying of Satan. In Christ's time, how did the Scribes and Pharisees confound Religion, dim and dazzle the truth; for the which, our Saviour himself did often reprove them? And in our times, how do the Papists labour to obscure Religion? how bold and impudent are they, to defend Idolatry, their own traditions and constitutions. Use. How should this stir up every christian man and woman to study the word of God; so that knowing the truth, & believing the doctrine of God, we may be able to discern between light and darkness, truth and falsehood; idolatry, and the service and worship of God. Secondly, to entreat the Lord in all humility, to open our eyes to discern the truth; to give us his holy Spirit, to lead us into all truth, to give unto us the Spirit of Discerning, to try the spirit and the doctrine, whether it be of God, or not: for otherwise we may be led awry, and take light for darkness, and darkness for light. Let us then confess our ignorance and blindness, and bewail it: Let us strive against our carelessness; Let us prove the Doctrine by the touchstone of the Word, if they be according to the law and the Prophets, else abhor them. Acts 17. Let us do as the men of Berea did, entreat the Lord to give us the Spirit of Discerning, that we may try all things, and hold the truth. And if ever we had need to pray for the Spirit of Discerning, now is the time: we see how bold the Devil is, how diligent to deceive us; and the Papists they be impudent and shameless, even to thrust upon us their cursed Idolatry, and tell us it is the true worship of God; their abominable Mass, their Merits, Purgatory, prayer for the dead, worshipping of Images, calling upon Saints, unwritten Verities, their vile Traditions, and filthy abominations, their Constitutions and vile Decrees; as if they were the written word of God. Now unless we have knowledge, and be able by God's Spirit to discern the spirits; alas! we shall drink in poison, idolatry, and superstition. O then, let us labour to know the Word of God, believe it, obey it, be reform by it, confess our ignorance, and with all humility pray unto God to open our eyes to give us the spirit of discerning, to know true Religion from false; which if we do, certainly the Lord will reveal his Truth unto us. And thus much shall serve for Christ's gentle reproof of his Church. 3 Christ's answer unto his church The third and last point, is the direct answer of Christ to the request of the Church; she desired to know of Christ where he fed his flock, and comforted them in the time of persecution, that so she might join with them; and be defended by him from false worship, and the idolatrous Church. Hear Christ doth answer her to the full: If thou know not, Oh thou fairest among women! get thee forth by the steps of the Sheep, and feed thy Kids by the Tents of the Shepherds. His counsel standeth in two parts, to show her where he feedeth. q. d. Wouldest thou know where I feed my Sheep, and where I cause them to lie down at Noon, that thou mightest feed with them, and be in my Fold, to be defended and protected by me? then I counsel thee: First, to walk in the steps of the Sheep: that is, thou must walk in the steps of the faithful servants of God, Abrabam, Isaac, and jacob; thou must embrace that faith, religion, & worship of GOD, which they believed and embraced; that is meant by the steps of the sheep. Secondly, thou must feed thy Kids; that is, thou must receive and embrace that Doctrine which the ancient Shepherds, Pastors, Prophets, and Apostles have taught and delivered. And if thou shalt thus tread in the steps of the sheep, Abraham, Isaac, and jacob; and embrace and obey the doctrines taught by the Prophets and Apostles, in the old and new Testament, thou shalt then know where I feed my sheep, that thou mayst feed with them, and take me for thy true Shepherd. Doctr. 8 From this answer of Christ we learn a clear direction, A direction to know which is the true Church. to know true Religion, and the true worship of God, from false religion, and false worship. If men do desire to know where Christ feedeth his sheep, and where GOD is truly worshipped, where is true religion, we must then tread in the steps of the Sheep. That is, we must worship God, as Abraham, Isaac, and jacob did, as Moses and the Prophets did; tread in their steps, and follow their godly examples; believe, repent, and walk with GOD, as they did, whom (by the judgement of Faith) we may conclude of, that they were the Sheep of Christ; for of them doth Christ speak here, and not of a company of Popes, Cardinals, jesuits, and the like, of that rabble; of whom to think that they should belong to this Fold, I know not whence I should fetch my charity. Again, we must embrace and believe the doctrine taught by Moses, and the Prophets, Christ and his Apostles, who were the true Shepherds and faithful Pastors of the Church of GOD: To the Law, Esay 8.20. and to the Testimony, if they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them. jere. 6.16. And again, Thus saith the Lord, stand in the ways, and behold, and ask for the old way, which is the good way, and walk therein, and you shall find peace and rest for your souls. So then, if we desire to know true Religion, and the true worship and service of God, this is the way, which I here teach and deliver from the Lord JESUS CHRIST, against the doctrine of all the Shavelings of Rome; namely this, and none but this; To inquire of the faith, Religion, and manner of the worshipping of God, performed by Abraham, Isaac, and jacob, patriarchs and Prophets, Preached and published by Christ and his Apostles; believe that, embrace that, and rest our souls on that. This may serve to decide a great question, and long controversy, between us and the Papists. They affirm that they are the true Church, and we are Heretics; we believe and hold that we are the true church of God, and that they be not, but Babylon, and the Synagogue of Satan. This then is the main Question, whether they, or we, be the true Church? Who shall judge? even Christ jesus himself in his own word: we rest upon him and fly unto him: which if the Papists would do likewise, they would never have run into a labyrinth of controversies as they have even at this day: For Christ would quickly have put an end unto all. For he saith, that they be the true Church, which Tread in the steps of the Sheep, and feed by the Tents of the Shepherds: That is, that people that believe and worship God, as Abraham, Isaac, and jacob did; and also that old Religion which they believed and embraced as the true Religion, for that was taught by the holy servants of God, who were the faithful Shepherds, and Pastors sent of God to his Church. Now let trial be made, whether the Papists or Protestants, the Church of Rome, or the Church of England do thus. For the Papists, although they call their Religion, the old Religion; yet alas, it is newly devised, the gteatest parts of it, within these four or five hundred years: It is such as was never known to Abraham, Isaac, jacob, Moses, or the Prophets; it was never known to Christ or his Apostles; they have lost the Steps of the Sheep, and the Tents of the Shepherds: that Doctrine, manner of Religion, the worship and service of God, which was used by the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and jacob, taught by Moses, and the Prophets, Christ and his Apostles; and they have got a new Religion of their own devising: They walk not in the steps of the Flock, but in the steps of their proud Popes, covetous Cardinals; filthy Friars, mangy monks: They have devised a thousand things in the service and worship of God against his Word, and against the Doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles. Where shall we ever find that Abraham, Isaac, jacob, and the Prophets did ever pray to Angels, or Saints, worshipped Images, prayed for the dead, looked to be saved by their own works, or merits? If they can show me, any foul-mouthed jesuite of them all, but any one example, in the whole book of God, of any of all God's children that have performed them, I will then lay my hand upon my mouth. In the mean time give me leave, O ye Papists, to tell you, that you are none of Christ's Church, you are none of Christ's Sheep; for you have left the Steps of the sheep, and the Tents of the shepherds, the Doctrine taught by the Prophets of God, Christ, and his apostles; and are no better than the whore of Babylon, the Synagogue of Satan. But as for the Church of England, we do believe and embrace that old and true Religion, that same Faith which Abraham, Isaac, and jacob did use: we hold that Doctrine taught by the ancient Prophets, and holy Apostles of CHRIST JESUS, without either adding or detracting: And if we should dare to devise a new kind of Faith, Religion, and worship of God, not used nor known to the ancient Prophets, patriarchs, and Apostles, as the Church of Rome doth; it were to leave the Steps of the Sheep, and to join with the Flocks of the Companions, even to shake hands with Idolaters. Use 2 Well, let us then ever stand out against the Antichrist of Rome, Reu. 18.4. and as Christ saith, Come out of her, join not with her in her false Religion, and Idolatrous service of God, lest you partake of her plagues, but let us hold fast still the true Religion of God: Tread in the steps of the Sheep; Feed by the Tents of the Shepherds. Let us live and die in the true Church of God, & for ever hold fast the true, ancient, & holy religion, which we have received from the holy patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, jacob, Moses, the Prophets, and the holy Apostles of jesus Christ, & then we shall be safe and sure; yea blessed and happy for evermore. FINIS.