The general session conteining an apologie of the most comfortable doctrine concerning the ende of this world, and seconde comming of Christ, written by Thomas Rogers. The first part, wherein for the comfort of the godlie is proued not onely that God wil, but also that he doth iudge this world.

CHAP. 14. (Book 14)

That God in his iustice doth punish his seruantes for their sinnes. (Book 14)

IN his iustice God also doth punish euē his sainctes for their offences. Because theie are guiltie not onelie of original, but of actual also; not only of secret, but of

knowne sinnes beside. Of original, be∣cause Theie are borne in iniquitie, conceiued in sina 1.1; and their harts, are euil euen frō their youthb 1.2: of actual, For who can saie, Mine heart is cleanec 1.3, I am cleane from sinne? There is no man that sinneth notd 1.4: of secret, for, If thou ô Lorde, streightlie markest ini∣quities, ô Lord, who shal stande 1.5? If I would iustifie my selfe, mine owne mouth shal con∣demne me; If I woulde be perfect, he shal iudge me wickedf 1.6; yea my cloathes shal iudg me filthie:* 1.7 and of knowne, for, I know mine iniquitiesg 1.8, and my sinne is euer before me; Againe, In manie thinges we sinne alh 1.9. Seeing then so manie waies the god∣lie are guiltie of sinne, what maruel though God as a righteous iudge, doth seuerelie in his iustice pinish them for the same!

In this their affliction the godlie haue* 1.10 continual consideration both of them∣selues and their miserie; and of God and his mercie. In themselues theie compare their sinnes, and their miserie together; and by the greatnes of their afflictiō theie gather, what an ouglie, filthie, and abo∣minable monster sinne is. Theie con∣sider that by their sinnes theie haue of∣fended not man but God, who is soue∣raignelie,

and infinitelie righteous: and that impossible it were for them to be sa∣ued, except some extraordinarie pardon did come. At the remembrance wher of theie do euen tremble & quake-againe.

As Dauid did when he saide ⁱ;* 1.11 Thine arrowes haue light vpon me, and thine hand lieth vpon me. There is nothing sounde in my flesh, because of thine anger; neither is there rest in my boanes because of my sinne. For mine iniquities are gon-ouer mine head,* 1.12 and as à weightie burden theie are too hea∣uie for me. My woundes putrifie and cor∣rupt* 1.13 because of my foolishnes. I am bowed & crooked verie sore: I goe mourning al the* 1.14 daie. For my reines are ful of burning; and there is nothing sound in my flesh. I am weak∣ned* 1.15 and sore broken, I doe roare for the ve∣rie griefe of mine heart. And afterwarde,* 1.16 Mine heart panteth, my strength faileth, and the light of mine eies, euen theie are not mine owne.

By which words the affections, & sor∣rows of those men who truly doe repent and weigh their wickednes in equal bal∣lance, are described. For theie conceiue of their sins, not as the hypocrites doe, ac∣cording to their owne opinions, & flesh∣lie imaginations; but theie place before

their eies, first the maiestie of his per∣son whome theie haue offended, name∣lie God: then the filthines and abhomi∣nation of sinne in it selfe: and last of al the punishment which theie deserue for sin∣ning by the sentence of the Lawe: and ac∣cording to the maiestie of God which is most sacred; to the nature of sin, which is most abhominable; and to the torments y^• theie deserued, which are endlesse, & in∣tolerable, theie do think of their offēces.

In God theie note iustice and mercie.* 1.17 For of his righteous iudgemement it is that theie are punished, & of his mercie, y^• theie perish not vtterlie. And although theie are scourged sometimes gentlie, & sometime sharplie: yet alwaies fauoura∣blie. For when he is angrie hee sheweth merciek 1.18, and in the time of trouble forgiueth the sinnes of them which cal vpō him. Ther∣fore,* 1.19 blessed are theie whome God correct∣ethl 1.20. For though he woundeth them,* 1.21 yet hee healeth them: though he smi∣teth them, yet he maketh whole againe: though he sēdeth troubles, yet at length he deliuereth: though he doeth afflictm 1.22, yet he forsaketh not; and though he ca∣steth down, yet he raiseth-vp againe. For he tempereth his iustice with mercie vn∣to

the preseruation of his seruants.

But howe come theie by such mercie? Euen through the obedience of Iesus Christ. For he was wounded for our of∣fencesn 1.23; and made à cursse for vso 1.24, so that by his stripes we are healedp 1.25, & de∣liuered though not from worldelie pu∣nishment, yet from the guilt of sinne; wherbie we appeare boldlie before God, being iustified through his obedience, & and made cleane by his bloud.

These thinges when the godlie doe thinke-vpon, as seldome theie are quite out of their minds, theie do magnifie the goodnes of God exceedinglie, partlie for punishing them, which is an argument to their consciences, not onelie y^• theie are his children (for theie who are without cor∣rection, are bastards, and not sonnesq 1.26) but al∣so that hee loueth them entirelie (be∣cause,* 1.27 whō the Lord loueth he chastenethr 1.28, and correcteth them for their profite,* 1.29 that theie maie bee partakers of his holines, and bring-forth the quiet fruite of righ∣teousnes: Partlie for punishing thē in this world, and not in the worlde to come; with lenitie, not in his furie; as his chil∣dren, not as seruantes; and as elect, not as cast-awaies.

But especialie theie praise him for their reconcilement vnto God y^e Father* 1.30 by the pretious bloud of the immaculate lambe Iesus Christf 1.31: wherebie theie be∣beleeue that none afflictions can hurt them. And therefore theie reioicet 1.32, kno∣wing that tribulation bringeth forth pa∣tience, and patience, experience, and ex∣perience, hope;* 1.33 and hope maketh not a∣shamed, but boldlie to endure al manner troubles;* 1.34 and earnestlie to desire not on∣lie à quite deliuerance from sinne, but al∣so that quiet state, where shalbe no more death, neither sorowe, neither crieng, nei∣ther paineu 1.35.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Psal. 51, 5.
• b 1.2

  Gen. 8, 21. Gen. 6, 5.
• c 1.3

  Pro. 20, 9.
• d 1.4

  1. King. 8, 46. 2. Chro. 6, 36. Eccl. 7, 22.
• e 1.5

  Psal. 130, 3.
• f 1.6

  Iob. 9, 20.
• * 1.7

  31.
• g 1.8

  Psal. 51, 3.
• h 1.9

  Iam. 3, 2
• * 1.10

  Cogitations of the godlie in their troubles
• * 1.11

  1. Psal. 38, 2. 3. 4,
• * 1.12

  5.
• * 1.13

  6.
• * 1.14

  7. 8.
• * 1.15

  9.
• * 1.16

  10.
• * 1.17

  The great mer∣cie of God in punishing sinneful man.
• k 1.18

  Tob. 13, 2.
• * 1.19

  18.
• l 1.20

  Iob. 5, 17.
• * 1.21

  19.
• m 1.22

  2. Cor. 4, 8. 9.
• n 1.23

  Isa. 53, 5.
• o 1.24

  Gal. 3, 13.
• p 1.25

  Isa. 53, 5.
• q 1.26

  Heb, 12, 8.
• * 1.27

  10.
• r 1.28

  Heb. 12, 6.
• * 1.29

  11.
• * 1.30

  Col. 1, 21.
• f 1.31

  1. Pet. 1, 19.
• t 1.32

  Rom. 5. 3.
• * 1.33

  4.
• * 1.34

  5.
• u 1.35

  Reuel. 21, 4.