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. 2. (Book 2)

Whether there shalbe an ende of this world; à resurrection of the flesh; and à gene∣ral iudgement, or no. (Book 2)

THere is nothing so certaine, but it hath beene denied; nor anie thing so necessarie to be beleeued, but it hath bin doubted-of; nor anie thing so profitable for Common-weales, but it hath beene spoken-against; nor anie thing so godlie, but it hath beene oppugned.

What so certaine as that there is à God? yet haue some denied the same, as Dia∣goras, Theodorusa 1.1, and othersb 1.2.

What so necessary as that sinners should repent?* 1.3 yet haue the Montanistesc 1.4, and the Nouatiansd 1.5 defended that it is both needelesse, and bootelesse so to doe. What more profitable than gouernment in à Common-weale? yet haue the Ar∣rianse 1.6, and the Anabaptistes of our time f 1.7inueighed against the same. And what more godlie than to thinke the worlde shal haue an ende; al flesh shal rise-againe, and appeare before the iudgement-seat

of Iesus Christ? yet haue there bine mon∣sterous, and heretical opinions here∣about.

For some haue flatlie, but most blas∣phemouslie giuen-out that the worlde neither had beginning, nor shal haue end: so did the Priestles, and Magicians of Ba∣bylong 1.8, with certaine Philosophers. Some, thought it had à beginning, that it shal haue none ende, as do the mockers of whome Saint Peter propheciedh 1.9, and we heare of in our time. Some haue al∣together denied y^e general iudgement, as the Manichies, &ci 1.10. Some haue granted y^e last iudgement, but denied the resurre∣ction of the flesh, as the Saturniansk 1.11, the Valentinians, the Marcians, the Cerdo∣nites, and manie moe.

Which damnable and curssed opini∣ons I would not haue recited, but suffe∣red them to be buried, as be the Au∣tors, were I not perswaded that in these daies, Satan by his ministers had sowed the like ful-thicke in the heartes of ma∣nie men; and therefore that it were ve∣rie needeful, that theie were both writ∣ten-against in Bookes for the posteritie to come, and inueighed-against moste

zealouslie with tongue for à present profite.

Wherefore against al, and euerie of these opinions somewhat, according to the measure of that grace which God shal giue me.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Cice. de Nat. Deor. lib. 1.
• b 1.2

  Epist. of Iude vers. 4.
• * 1.3

  Theodoret. lib. de principiis.
• c 1.4

  Hierom. lib. 2. aduersus Iouin.
• d 1.5

  Dionys. Alex. apud Euseb. lib. 6. cap. 43.
• e 1.6

  Theodoret. lib. 2. cap. 31.
• f 1.7

  Melanct. in locis suis cōmu. Tit. de Baptis. Infantium. Georg. Maior, Tom. 3. Homi. suarum. fol. 129. b. 572.
• g 1.8

  Hector Boē∣thius lib. 2, ca. 3.
• h 1.9

  2. Pet. 3, 3.
• i 1.10

  Eccles. hist. Cent. 3, cap. 11.
• k 1.11

  Irenaeus li. 5.