Thrēnoikos The house of mourning; furnished with directions for preparations to meditations of consolations at the houre of death. Delivered in XLVII. sermons, preached at the funeralls of divers faithfull servants of Christ. By Daniel Featly, Martin Day Richard Sibbs Thomas Taylor Doctors in Divinitie. And other reverend divines.

CHRIST HIS SECOND ADVENT; OR, THE APPROACH OF THE GOD OF RECOMPENCES. SERMON XXIII. (Book 23)

REVEL. 22. 12.

Behold, I come shortly, and my reward is with me, to give every man according to his workes.

THe Angell having described to Saint Iohn (in the Chapter immediatly before; and in the former part of this Chapter) the exceeding great joy, and glory, and felici∣tie, that all the godly shall have in the king∣dome of heaven, by comparing it to a Ci∣tie built with precious stones, having twelve gates, and twelve foundations: wherein there is no darknesse, they needing no candle, nor the light of the Sunne: for Christ Jesus the Sunne of righteousnesse, is the continuall light thereof. And that therein is no miserie, no crosse, no imperfection; no want, no calamitie, but continuall joy and rejoycing. Where their songs are Halelujah, and their shields felicitie, in the continuall enjoying of the pre∣sence of Almighty God, the glorious Trinitie. Having, I say, thus described these joyes, he doth in the words of my Text, for the comfort of the godly, Who (have here no continuing Citie, but) are strangers, and forreiners, and pilgrims, and travellers to another Citie, and seeke a Countrie. And in this their travell, they meete with many crosses, and afflictions, and miseries.

And likewise for the terrour of the wicked, that make this

world their kingdome, and are the chiefe Lords and commanders of the same: for the comfort of the one, and the terrour of the other, the Angell here in the person of Christ saith, hee will come, and that shortly, to bee a speedy deliverer of the one, and a just Judge against the other.

Behold, I come shortly, and my reward is with me, &c.

In which words, observe these particular branches. * 1.1

First, the word of preparation or attention, in the first word, Behold, which is as it were a Trumpet that sounds before the com∣ming of the great Judge, bidding every one to fit, and prepare himselfe to hold up his hand at the barre, Behold.

Secondly the Person, and that is the Judge himselfe, speaking in the person of the Angell. I, Christ Jesus himselfe.

Thirdly, his action, I come.

Fourthly, the speedinesse of his comming, shortly.

Fiftly, the end of his comming to Judgement, and that is to re∣ward every man according to his workes.

Sixtly, and lastly, the quantitie, and the qualitie of the reward inclusively set downe; which is according to the qualitie of the workes: for if the workes be good, there shall be a great, and good reward, but if they be bad, the reward shall be accordingly. The small model of time will not suffer mee to runne over all these particulars: therefore my meditations, and your attention, shall be in one doctrine from the words in generall, and that is this, that

Christ Iesus will hasten his comming to Iudgement, to reward the godly with everlasting, and eternall felicities: but the wicked and ungodly, * 1.2 with endlesse woe, and perpetuall miserie.

For the proofe of which doctrine, you may consider these foure things.

First of all the certaintie, and celeritie of Christs comming to Judgement.

Secondly, the signes that prognosticate his comming.

Thirdly, the Judgement it selfe.

Lastly, the end.

For the certaintie of Christs comming to judgement, I perswade my selfe that there is none here among you so ignorant, that hee doth not know, or so Atheisticall that he doth not beleeve: you know it is an Article of our beliefe, that he ascended into heaven, and there hee sits at the right hand of his Father in glorie, and from thence he shall come at the end of the world, to judge both the quicke and the dead. Therefore I may spare the labour, and the time in any fur∣ther proofe of that.

Now concerning the speedinesse of his comming to judge∣ment. * 1.3 If so be the day of Judgement was at hand sixteene ages since, as both Christ and his Apostles proclaimed; if then even in Christs dayes the ends of the world were come, as Saint Paul saith, 1 Cor. 10. 11. If then was the last time, as Saint Iohn saith. 1 Iohn 2. * 1.4 18. If then the end of all things were at hand, as Saint Peter saith, 1 Pet. 4. 7. can we thinke that now it is farre off? Nay, so sure, and so certaine as God is God, and his Word is truth, and not one jotte nor tittle thereof shall passe away, he is neere at hand, hee will come shortly.

But, before wee proceed, there lies two stumbling blocks in the * 1.5 way, that wee must remove, wherewith many stumble concerning this point. In the time of the Apostles there were two heresies confuted: the one by Saint Peter, the other by Saint Paul.

Saint Peter in 2 Pet. 3. 3. he wills us to understand, that in the last dayes there shall come scoffers, men living after their owne lusts, saying, * 1.6 Where is the promise of his comming? You preach so much that Christ Jesus is comming to Judgement, and to call every one of us to account for our wayes, our words and actions, but where is the promise of his comming? for all things continue alike from the beginning of the Creation. Miserable men! that would be perswaded that the day of Judgement should never come, because it was deferred: but such jesting, and mocking, and scoffing at this great and terri∣ble day heretofore used, and indeed now practised in the whole progenie of unbeleevers, it may be an argument to us, that it shall not be deferred; for so saith Saint Paul, 1 Thes. 5. 3. when they shall say, peace, peace, and safetie, then destruction shall come on them, as tra∣vell on a woman with child, and they shall not escape.

But Saint Peter answers these scoffers that asked, Where is the promise of his comming? hee gives them two answers; The one in verse 8. the other verse 9.

In the eighth verse, he saith Christ deferres not long to come to judgement: for saith he, one day with the Lord is as a thousand yeares, &c. alluding to Psal. 90. 4. A thousand yeares in thy sight, are but as * 1.7 yesterday, since they passe as a watch in the night. As if he should say; were it possible for a man to live a thousand yeares; yet those thousand yeares in respect of God, assoone as they are past, they are as one day in respect of men: nay, they are but as a watch of the night; that is, but as three houres. The old Jewes they divi∣ded the night into foure Watches, and appointed to each Watch three houres; as may appeare by comparing of these places of Scripture together, Mat. 14. 24. Num. 14. 25. Luke 12. 38. So then * 1.8 the words beare this exposition, that a thousand yeares in respect of God, are but as one day; nay, but as a Watch of the night; that is, but as three houres. It doth plainly shew to us, that Saint Peter meant

not to speake distinctly of a thousand yeares, but of a long time: so that his meaning is, innumerable yeares in respect of God, are but as one day. Saint Peter might as well have said 2000. or 3000. or 10000. thousand yeares in respect of God, are but as one day. Thus you have his first answer to those scoffers, that said, Where is the promise of his comming?

His second answer is in the ninth verse, where the Apostle saith, The Lord is not slacke concerning his promise. Where is the promise of his comming? Why, saith the Apostle, The Lord is not slacke, as we account slacknesse. For we account them slacke that goe slowly a∣bout a worke, but God is not so to bee accounted slacke; but saith the Apostle, Hee is patient towards us, and would have none perish, but come to repentance. Then the slacknesse of Christs comming is his patience, because he would give us time to repent, and have us prepared before hee come. O, then beloved, let us not make a mocke as others doe of this patience, but while we have time, let us take time, that when he comes we may be worthy of him. Thus you have the first heresie confuted.

The second was quite contrarie to this, set abroach by certaine false teachers, who taught the Thessalonians, that the day of * 1.9 Judgement was so neere, that it should happen in their age. Where (by the way) you may take notice of the exceeding great subtil∣tie of the Divell, that labours by all meanes possible to bring men to one of these extreames. Either that the day of Judgement shall never come, or it shall come in such a limited time and age. And indeed it is ranked among the opinions of some, that held that the day of judgement should be just 6000. yeares after the Creation, 2000. before the Law, 2000. under the Law, and 2000. under the Gospell. But Saint Paul answers these false teachers among the Thessalonians, and all of the like opinion: therefore to arme * 1.10 them against their assaults, he bids them for a certainetie beleeve it. 2 Thessal. 2. that the day of judgement was not at hand. And hee gives the reason verse 3. For, saith he, that day shall not come, except there be a departing first, and that man of sinne, the sonne of perdition bee revealed.

But how is it that the Apostle tells the Thessalonians, that the * 1.11 day of Judgement was not at hand, seeing it is plaine in the places before recited, that the end of the world was at hand, and that now was the last times? and Heb. 9. 26. Christ appeared in the end of the world. It was in the end of the world that Christ appeared to * 1.12 sacrifice himselfe for our sinnes; how is it then that he tells the Thessalonians here, that the day of the Lord is not at hand?

Master Calvin saith the answer is easie: for, saith he, in respect of God it was at hand, but as for us, we must be continually wai∣ting * 1.13 for it. But Master Beza, and Rollock give another Exposition,

which I take to be more naturall to the place: for, say they, in all those places where it seemes to be avouched, that the day of the Lord is at hand: they understand the word in the Originall, to signifie generally a time drawing neere. As to say the day of Judgement may be this day as well as to morrow, and to morrow as well as this day; and many dayes hence as well as now. But in that place where he saith it is not at hand, they understand the word precise∣ly, to be meant of a precise time: so the Apostle speakes truly, the day of Judgement is not at hand, so as that any man can say, it shall bee this day, or this moneth, or this houre, or this yeare, or this age. This is no more but the doctrine of Christ; Of that day, and houre no man knoweth, no not the Angels in heaven; no, not Christ him∣selfe as man, but the Father only.

So you see it is plaine and evident, that the day of Judgement is at hand; but in what precise limits of time or age it shall happen, it is uncertaine. Our Saviour Christ tells his Apostles, Act. 1. 7. It is not * 1.14 for you to know the times, and seasons, that the Father hath put into his own hands. It is not for you to know these times: Then beloved, why should we have an eare to heare, where God hath not a tongue to speake? Let it suffice us to know that it is at hand, which if wee make good use of, it will make us warie and watchfull, and vigi∣lant over all our wayes; that we say not with the evill servant, Our Master deferres his comming; let us eate, and drinke, and beat our fel∣low servants: but betake our selves to the good servants dutie, to watch. Watch we therefore, wee know not the day and houre, when the Sonne of man commeth. But when he commeth and findes us do∣ing well, dealing faithfully, and living holily; happy, nay thrice happie shall we be: we shall bee sure to partake of the blessing of those upon mount Gerrazim, we need not feare the curse of those upon Mount Eball. Wee need not bee afraid of the Thundering, and lightning on Sinai, nor the fire, and tempest, nor smoake of the furnace, nor of the sound of the Trumpet: for all our joy shall be in Sion.

But when he comes, if he find us living wickedly, dealing un∣faithfully, cursed, nay, thrice cursed we be, we are sure to partake of mourning for joy, of ashes for beautie, of a rent for a girdle: whatsoever becomes of our garments, assuredly our hearts shall be rent in sunder. Watch wee therefore, wee know not the day and houre, when the Sonne of man will come.

In the second place, that the children of God may bee armed, * 1.15 and prepared for his comming, hee hath set downe in his Word, certaine signes which being effected, and come to passe; they may easily judge, that then the day of redemption draweth nigh. Now these signes are of three sorts. * 1.16

Some are in respect of us a long time before he comes to judge∣ment.

A second sort are immediatly before his comming.

The third, in his comming.

The signes that prognosticate his comming long before are these; * 1.17

First of all the preaching of the Gospell to the whole world, * 1.18 which is set downe by Christ, Mat. 24. 14. The Gospell of the king∣dome shall bee preached to the whole world, for a testimonie to all Nati∣ons; then shall the end bee. Which words of our Saviour Christ we are not so to understand, as that the Gospell should be preached to the whole world at any one time: for that never was; nor I thinke never will be: but if we so understand it, that the Gospell shall be preached to all Nations successively, and at severall times: then if wee consider the times since the Apostles, wee shall find that the sound of the Gospell hath gone out to all the Nations of the world, as it was spoken by the Prophet: so that this first signe is already past, the end cannot be farre.

The second signe is, the revealing of Antichrist, saith the Apo∣stle, 2 Thessal. 2. 3. That day shall not come, except there bee a departing, * 1.19 and that man of sinne, the sonne of perdition, which is Antichrist bee revealed. Concerning this signe, in the yeare of our Lord 602. af∣ter Christ; S. Gregorie seemeth to avouch, that whosoever taketh the name of universall Bishop, and Pastor of the Church, that was Antichrist. Five yeares after, Boniface succeeding him, by Phocas the Emperour, had the title of Universall Bishop of the Church, and ever since, all their successours have taken that name: so that it is evident that at Rome hath beene, and now is, the Antichrist; so that the second signe being fulfilled, the end cannot be farre.

The third is the generall departure of the most from the Faith. * 1.20 There hath beene a generall departure in former times: when Ar∣rius spread his heresies, almost all the whole world became an Arian: and for the space of 500 yeares together, from the time of Boniface, the world was so infected with Popish heresies, that the faith of Christ could scarsely be discerned; they were as a hand∣full of wheate to a great deale of chaffe; so that this signe it is al∣ready fulfilled in part; but there shall alway be a falling away, and a departing from the faith till Christ come to judgement.

The fourth signe stands in exceeding great corruption in the manners of men. And the Apostle makes this a signe of Christs * 1.21 last comming to judgement, 2 Tim. 3. This know, that in the last dayes perillous times shall come, men shall be lovers of themselves, cove∣tous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unholy, with∣out naturall affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitours, headie, high-minded, lovers of pleasures, more then lovers of God. The Apostle makes this a signe and marke, that shall bee in the last dayes. Beloved, if ever this

were fulfilled, it is fulfilled in these dayes of ours: for there is a generall corruption in the manners of men. It is very hard to find those that in all truth and sinceritie, labour to discharge a good conscience towards God and men. And Christ hath said himselfe, that when hee comes to judgement, hee shall scarse find faith on earth; such a generall corruption there shall bee in the manners of men: so that this fourth signe being already past, the end cannot be farre.

The fift signe is exceeding great persecution, and affliction of * 1.22 the Church, and the Saints of God. This hath beene fulfilled in former times. You know there were ten fearfull persecutions in the Primitive Church. And so it is fulfilled even in these dayes of ours: for the Whore of Babylon, that spotted beast, shee laboureth to make her selfe drunke with the bloud of Gods Saints. There are but few yeares, nay, moneths, or weeks, wherein some of the bloud of Gods Saints is not sacrificed to appease the wrath of the Perse∣cutors. Then if in these dayes, this signe be fulfilled, the end can∣not be farre.

The sixt is a generall securitie, so that men will not be moved, * 1.23 neither with the preaching of the word of God, nor yet with judgements from heaven: they have such exceeding dulnesse and deadnesse of heart, that neither of these will move them.

For the former, you know God hath sent many judgements amongst us; we have had fire, and famine, and pestilence, and in∣vasion of forreine enemies; inundation of waters, thunder and lightning from heaven; but all these will not worke upon our hearts. The Lord he hath scourged us oft, but yet we set light by his corrections, we harden our hearts against all his judgements, our hearts will not be softned, and molified; what effect hath all these wrought, where is our humiliation, our repentance, and re∣formation.

And for the preaching of the word of God, alas that can get no entrance at all: mens hearts are so crustie, and so hardened, that the seed of Gods word it lies uncovered, it takes no roote at all in the heart; it workes no reformation at all: so that if ever this signe were fulfilled, it is in these dayes. It shall be saith Christ speaking of the generall securitie that shall bee, when hee comes to judge∣ment) as in the dayes of Noah and of Lot, they were eating and drink∣ing, and marrying, and giving in marriage, till the fire came from heaven and burned them, and the water over-flowed the world: so that this sixt signe being past, the end cannot be farre.

The seventh and last signe of Christs comming to Judgement, * 1.24 is the calling of the Jewes, which the Apostle, Rom. 11. 25. calls the fulfilling of the Gentiles. When God hath the number of his Elect among the Gentiles, then the Jewes shall bee called againe:

but of the time, and the manner, and number, the word of God doth not reveale it: so that it is likely this signe is yet to come, all the rest are fulfilled, and therefore the end cannot be farre.

The second sort of signes, are such as are immediatly before Christs comming to Judgement, and that is the darknesse of the * 1.25 Sunne, Moone, and Starres. The Sunne shall bee darkned, the Moone shall lose her light; the Starres shall fall from heaven, the very powers of heaven shall bee shaken, the foundations of the heavens shall tremble. Alas, what shall the little shrubbes in the Wildernesse doe, when the tall Cedars of heaven shall bee shaken? What shall poore sinfull man doe, when the Angels shall be afraid?

The last signe shall be in Christs comming to Judgement, Mat. 24. 29. it is called, the signe of the Sonne of man; Then shall appeare * 1.26 the signe of the Sonne of man; and then all the tribes of the earth shall mourne. What this signe of the Sonne of man is, Divines doe va∣rie. Some hold it is the signe of the Crosse, which all eyes shall behold, even they that pierced him, as Iohn saith, Revel. 1. * 1.27

Some others (which I rather assent unto) take it to be the glo∣rious beames of Christs Majestie, immedeiatly before his perso∣nall appearance to enlighten the world, being darkned, by reason of the want of the light of the Sunne and Moone. So you see what these signes shall be. The signes that prognosticate Christs com∣ming. Those that shall be fulfilled long before, they are all effe∣cted, but one, as you heard. Therefore it stands us all upon, as wise Virgins, to prepare oyle in our lampes, that when our Bride∣groome Christ shall come, we may be ready to enter into eternall joy. So we come from the signes that prognosticate the judge∣ment, to the Judgement it selfe.

Concerning the Judgement it selfe; You must know that after * 1.28 death there are two judgements; There is a particular, and there is a generall * 1.29 Judgement.

The particular Judgement is immediatly, as soone as ever the breath is gone out of the body. As soone as ever the soule is * 1.30 gone out of the body, it is conducted by the Angels before the Tribunall seat of God, and there receives the particular sentence, either of joy or torment, according as it lived in the body in this life. We need not speake of this; we have example for the proofe of it in Scripture, of Dives and Lazarus, the one whereof being dead, was presently carried to joy, the other presently to tor∣ment.

The other is a generall judgement; so called, because it shall * 1.31 be of all men in generall that ever lived, and breathed upon the face of the earth, men, women, and children; all shall be presen∣ted

before the Tribunall seat of Christ; all must hold up their hands at the Barre of his judgement; all must give an account of all their words, thoughts, and actions: all must receive the sen∣tence either of Come yee blessed, or goe yee cursed. After which sen∣tence once pronounced, there shall never question bee made, of the end of the joy of the one, or of the ease of the torments of the other.

But here ariseth a question; you know the world consists but * 1.32 of two sorts of persons, beleevers, and unbeleevers. For the be∣leever it is evident and plaine, Ioh. 5. 24. Hee is passed alreadie from * 1.33 death to life; he hath everlasting life already; he shall not come in∣to judgement. And for the unbeleever it is as plaine, Ioh. 3. 18. that * 1.34 he is already condemned, even already: both are judged already, both the beleever and unbeleever; the beleever is saved already, the unbeleever is damned already, what need therefore a generall; a second Judgement?

To this I answer, that there is a very great need of it, both in * 1.35 respect of the justice, and of the mercie of God, whose propertie it is alway to reward the godly, and to punish the wicked, which seeing he doth not to the full in this life, it must needes bee that a day will come that he will fully doe it.

You know the course of the Lord, as David speakes; good men have bands in their death, and wicked men are Iustie and strong; good men are in evill condition; and wicked men in prosperitie. Diogenes the Cinnick, seeing Harpalus a theefe long in prosperitie; he was bold to say, that wicked Harpalus his living long in prospe∣ritie, it was an argument to Diogenes, that God had cast off his care of the world, that he respected not mens affaires. And indeed the prosperitie of the wicked, hath brought the Saints of God to a stand. Davids foot slipped almost in seeing the prosperitie of the * 1.36 wicked. It made Iob to say, Iob 24. 12. Men groane out of the Citie by reason of oppression, and the soules of the slaine crie out; and yet God chargeth them not with folly. This made Ieremiah, to expostulate his cause with the Lord, Ierem. 12. Let mee talke with thee of thy * 1.37 judgements, Why doth the wicked prosper, and they that transgresse thy commandements? This makes the godly take up that passionate complaint, Psal. 73. 11. How doth God know it? is there any know∣ledge * 1.38 in the most high? Certainly, we have cleansed our hearts in vaine; in vaine wee have washed our hands in innocencie: in vaine we labour to live godly lives; Why? Every day wee are chastened: for the Lord corrects us every morning. And these have the wealth of the world, they have the world at will. Wee in Chri∣stianitie know this to be true. Dives hath the world at will, while poore Lazarus is shut out of dores, hungrie and thirstie, cold and naked, full of necessitie every way. This being so, the day must

needes come, that the one shall have fulnesse of glory, and the o∣ther of miserie.

But to answer those places before cited. To the former Ioh. 5. where it is said, The beleever is passed already from death to life; hee hath everlasting life alreadie. It is true, hee is passed already from death to life, by faith he hath it already, and by hope; he shall not come into judgement; that is, of condemnation, (so we must un∣derstand it,) but there is a judgement of absolution that is to bee executed; and so when the Lord Jesus Christ shall descend from heaven with the sound of a Trumpet, and the voyce of the Archangell, then the dead in Christ shall rise first, and bee caught up in the cloudes to meet Christ, and then they shall be set at his right hand, and heare that heavenly sentence; Come yee blessed of my Father, inherite the kingdome prepared for you, before the beginning of the world. You see the answer to that, that beleevers shall not come into judgement; that is, not the judgement of condemnation, but of absolution at the last day.

Now for the other place, where it is said, Ioh. 3. 18. the unbe∣leever * 1.39 is condemned alreadie.

It is true, he is condemned already, and that three wayes.

First of all, hee is condemned already in the counsell of God.

Secondly, he is condemned already in the word of God.

Thirdly, he is condemned already in his owne conscience.

First, in the counsell of God, God hath made an eternall decree of Predestination, whereby he hath elected some to salvation, and predestinated them thereto, and others to damnation. In this Gods eternall decree, the unbeleever is alreadie condemned: nay, before ever he came into the world, as you have it in the example of Ia∣cob and Esau, Rom. 9. before ever they had done good or evill, God hated the one, and loved the other.

Secondly, in the word of God hee is condemned, Iohn 3. 18. Why? because he hates the light, and loves darknesse.

Thirdly, in his owne conscience he is condemned: for the con∣tinuall horrour thereof gives him no rest, day nor night; there is a worme continually gnawing there, and a sting tormenting him: but the full execution thereof is to be in the day of wrath, when he shall be set at the left hand of Christ, and heare the sentence, Goe yee cursed into eternall fire, prepared for the divell and his angells. O, what a terrible day will this be to all the wicked workers of ini∣quitie: for Christ Jesus the Judge shall come then, to give them their reward. This shall be a blacke, a sad, a wofull, dismall day to them: they shall not be able to looke on the Judge, he shall bee so terrible to them. You see the terriblenesse of the Judge set downe by Saint Iohn, Revel. 20. 10, 11. where it is said, hee saw a * 1.40 great white throne, and one sitting thereon, from whose face fled heaven

and earth, and their place was no more found. Heaven and earth are great and mightie creatures, insensible creatures, that have not sinned, they flie, and tremble, and hide themselves at the comming of the great Judge: and shall man, silly sinfull man, thinke to stand before the Judge without trembling? Indeed if a man could present himselfe spotlesse without blame, he needed not to feare, but a las it is farre otherwise, there is none that doth good, and sin∣neth not, saith Solomon. The most righteous before men are stained, and poluted in the sight of God; and may crie with the Leper, Uncleane, uncleane, what is man that hee should be pure? or the sonne of man, that hee should bee just with God? The Angels of heaven are impure in his sight, how much more filthy man, that drinketh iniquitie * 1.41 as water, Job 15. So in Psal. 14. 2. When God lookes downe from hea∣ven upon the sonnes of men, to see if there were any that would under∣stand and seeke after God; Will he find any that frames themselves according to the rule of perfection that hee requires? surely no; but this he findes, they are all corrupt, and abominable in their doings, there is none that doth good; no, not one: so sinfull is man in his whole race: sinfull in his conception, he is conceived in sinne, before ever hee sees light in this world, when hee is covered with the rich hangings of natures wardrobe in his mothers womb, then man tumbles in sinne, as the word in the originall signifieth. Hee is sinfull in his birth, in his life, in his thoughts, his words and acti∣ons; and shall he that is thus spotted, and stained, and polluted, stand before the pure Judge of heaven and earth without trem∣bling? surely no; The mightie, the Kings of the earth, the Captaines, high, and low, of what condition soever; as many as have not made their garments white in the bloud of the slaughtered Lambe Christ, they shall tremble, and flie to hide themselves; and crie to the mountaines to cover them, before the face of this glorious Judge.

Wee come now to the last thing, and that is the end of Christs * 1.42 comming to Judgement. The end of Christs comming you know is to give a reward. And this reward shall be both to the wicked, and to the godly: for hee shall give the reward according to every mans worke.

First, I will speake of the reward of the wicked.

And after conclude with the reward of the godly.

The reward of the wicked shall be endlesse woe, and perpetuall * 1.43 miserie in hell. There was never any man that descended into that fierie lake, and returned thence to tell us, what torments are provided for the wicked in Hell: but yet as by one drop of the Sea water, you may conceive of the saltnesse of the rest; and as a man may ghesse at the stature of a Giant, by the length of his foot; even so wee may have some conceit of those endlesse and easelesse, and remedilesse torments prepared for the wicked in

hell, by a taste of the miseries we have in this life. Great may the griefe of a mans heart be, even in this life, as great as mortalitie is able to beare. Can we read of the mourning of Ioseph, of Han∣nah, of Iob, of Ieremie, of Ierusalem and not bee moved? our hearts are hard. Can we reade of the hideous torments invented by Tyrants, Caldrons of boyling oyle, roasting upon spits, tum∣bling downe Mountaines in barrels of nayles, rending of joynts with horses; can we reade of these mercilesse torments, and not be moved? our hearts are harder then a milstone. Alas, beloved, these are nothing but shadowes, but counterfeit to those torments that are prepared for the wicked in hell. For though the bowels of hell labour to emptie the bowels of judgement, yet shee hath an immeasurable portion for her children now living; nay, for those that are unborne, a patrimonie of blacknesse, of brimstone, of the wrath of God, of wailing, and gnashing of teeth. Cer∣tainly, death shall take them away, but they shall never die; they shall consume for ever, and yet shall not be consumed; they shall be in fire unquenchable, and yet see no light. You may reade of the wine of giddinesse, Psal. 60. 3. of a strange kind of Worme, Isay * 1.44 ult. of fire and brimstone, Ezek. 38. 22. of the Wine-presse of Gods wrath, Revel. 14. 10. All these, and if worse then these can be, are prepared as so many torments for the wicked workers of iniquitie. Their cuppe is the deadliest that ever was drunke, even of Gods wrath wherewith they shall bee filled for ever; their worme is that that continually gnawes upon the conscience: they shall bee tormented in fire and brimstone, before the Lambe and his An∣gels: Not such as that of Sodome and Gomorrah; for then there were hope that they might be converted at the last into heapes of Ashes, or pooles of Pitch; but such fire and brimstone, that as a bottomlesse Mine gives them rest neither night nor day, the smoake of it ascending for ever; and is appointed for a time, and times, till time shall be no more. Their torment in such a mea∣sure, as neither eye hath seene, nor eare heard, nor heart of man hath conceived. But, beloved, all this is but generall; if the time would suffer, we could shew the torments of the damned in par∣ticular, as

First, the eternitie of those torments, in that they shall never * 1.45 end; and I verily perswade my selfe, that this is a great increase of their torments, the very conceit and thought that they shall never end, it is a great increase and aggravation of the torment. You know there is no griefe and sorrow, or miserie in this life, but time will either deminish it, or take it quite away; either the tormented, or the tormentor will die: but in hell there you have them tormented day and night, for ever and ever, neither the tor∣mented, or the tormentor die, but they live to endlesse woe.

O! saith a godly Father in his meditations, if a wicked sinner in hell did know that he were to continue there no more thousands of yeares, then there are sands upon the Sea-shore, or no more milli∣ons of Ages, then there are piles of grasse upon the ground, yet this would be some comfort, that at last they should have an end; but this word never, it breakes the heart, that after they have con∣tinued there so many thousand yeares, and millions of ages, they are as farre from the end of their torment as at the first.

Secondly, we might note here againe the extremitie, and strict∣nesse * 1.46 of those torments, the straitnesse of them, there is no mercy shewed; Take him, and bind him hand and foot, and cast him into ut∣ter darknesse. And againe, the gate is shut, after the sinner is once cast into hell, there is no getting out againe, the gate is shut.

The straitnesse of these torments may bee exceedingly layd downe to us, in the Parable of the rich glutton; who in hell, roa∣ring in everlasting flames, lift up his eyes, and saw Abraham a-farre off, and Lazarus in his bosome; hee desired Abraham to send Laza∣rus, but to dippe the toppe of his finger in water, to coole his tongue: a small request: hee askes not to bee delivered from his torments; or for a flaggon of water, but for a droppe; yet to see the strictnesse of those torments, it was denied him. Dives had before, the world at will, what his heart could desire: but Lazarus comes to his gate full of soares and hungrie, yet hee refused to refresh him with crummes from his table; see the just judgement of God against the mercilesse wretch. Dives refused to give a crumme; when he asked he is denied one drop. So that as Saint Iames speakes, Iam. 2. there shall be judgement mercilesse to them that * 1.47 yeeld no mercie.

Beloved, all you that have the wealth of the world remember this example, when the poore distressed members of Christ come to your gates, shutte not up the bowels of compassion, open your hands, and your hearts to relieve them: for as I said before, there shall bee judgement mercilesse to those that shew no mercie. But I come * 1.48 to the last thing that I will but only name; that is, the reward of the godly, that everlasting, eternall felicitie in heaven. The time will not suffer mee to speake largely, and particularly of the re∣ward of the godly, which is a great incouragement, and comfor∣table to the servants of God. I will only speake in generall. The Prophets when they speake of the Kingdome of Christ, they set it out by good things; there is no need of their good things; Nati∣on shall not rise against Nation, they shall breake their speares into mat∣tocks. * 1.49 The wolfe shall dwell with the lambe, and the Leopard with the * 1.50 Kidde; They shall eate of the tree of life, and the hidden Manna there. They shall bee made pillers in the Temple of God. There they shall be cloathed with long whiterobes. Which places take us by the hand,

and bring us to some conceit of those joyes.

How then doth it stand every one upon now, while wee have time, to labour to have interest in those joyes? Thrice happy is that man or woman, that comes to enjoy those joyes. It is spoken of Christ, that hee, the joyes of heaven being set before him, hee susteined the crosse. Saint Paul accounted all but dung that hee might winne Christ, and come to those joyes. And Igna∣tius saith, that breaking of bones, fire, and gallowes, quartering of limbes, come what will, so I may come to those joyes. I would wee had all the like zeale after those joyes. Our cold∣nesse in seeking those joyes come from a base esteeme of them for if wee did esteeme them, wee would labour exceedingly after them.

Many things for use might be inferred hence. As first here is * 1.51 comfort, and incouragement to all the Saints of God, the servants of Christ, that take paines to live a godly life. However here they indure afflictions, and mockings, and reproaches, and scoffes of the world, yet Christ hath a great reward for them. Let them re∣joyce, great shall their reward be. Give me a man then that hath buckled with the sinnes of the times, that hath studied the ad∣vancement of Religion; give mee such a one as hath incouraged those that are feeble, that hath provided for the Lords Prophets, that hath reformed the abuses of the Lords day as Nehemiah; what will inflame his zeale more then this, that Christ his Savi∣our sees it, and regards it, and will reward him? And lest hee should faint before the reward come, he saith, he will come short∣ly. This comforted Elias in the Wildernesse, and Ieremiah in the Dungeon, and Iob on the Dunghill; so that they were more then conquerours through Christ.

Secondly, is it so that Christ will come to Judgement, and * 1.52 hath his reward with him; here is terrour to all the wicked wor∣kers of iniquitie. Behold, saith Malachie, Mal. 4. 1. The day of the Lord commeth, it shall burne as an oven, and all the wicked and un∣godly of the earth, shall bee as stubble and straw, and fuell for the fur∣nace of Gods wrath. What a wofull and heavie day will this be to all the wicked and ungodly? Me thinkes they might conceive the terrour, and they shall crie out at the last day, when hee shall come to reward them: is not this he whose lawes wee have con∣temned? whose sides wee have pierced? whom wee have nay∣led to the Crosse: whose Ministers wee haue reviled? whose servants wee have reproached? And this shall strike great terrour to the hearts of all wicked men, when Christ shall pronounce a∣gainst them, Goe yee cursed. Whither? to the divell and his place of torments: Then they shall crie to the mountaines to fall on them: Oh that some wilde beast would follow them, and teare them in

peeces, but it will be too late: their part and portion is in that Lake that burnes with fire and brimstone.

Lastly, this should stirre every one up to fit himselfe, to pre∣pare * 1.53 for this judgement. And let us continually therefore lift up our hearts to heaven; and as the Apostle speakes, waite for the ap∣pearing of Christ to Judgement. Then all teares shall bee wiped from our eyes: there shall bee no more sorrow, and mourning: there we shall sit with the Saints, and sing with the Angels, Halelujah, halelujah, all praise, and honour, and glorie, and might, and dominion, and majestie, bee to him that is upon the throne; the Lambe Christ Jesus for ever∣more.

FINIS.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Parts of the Text.
• * 1.2

  Doctr. Christ will come to judgement to reward the godly and ungodly.
• * 1.3

  The speedi∣nesse of Christs com∣ming.
• * 1.4

  1 Cor. 10. 11 1 Joh. 2. 18. 1 Pet. 4. 7.
• * 1.5

  Two heresies concerning Christs com∣ming to judgement. 2 Pet. 3. 3.
• * 1.6

  1. Confuted by S. Peter.
• * 1.7

  Psal. 90. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.8

  Mat. 14. 24. Numb. 14. 25 Luk. 12. 38.
• * 1.9

  2. By S. Paul.
• * 1.10

  1 Thes. 2.
• * 1.11

  Object.
• * 1.12

  Heb. 26.
• * 1.13

  Answ.
• * 1.14

  Act. 1. 7.
• * 1.15

  2. Signe•…•… of Christs com∣ming.
• * 1.16

  Of three sorts.
• * 1.17

  1. Long be∣fore.
• * 1.18

  1. The preach∣ing the Gos∣pell to all the world. Mat. 24. 14.
• * 1.19

  2. Thereves∣ling of Anti∣christ. 2 Thes. 2. 3.
• * 1.20

  3. Generall de∣parture from the faith.
• * 1.21

  4. Corruption in manners. 2 Tim. 3.
• * 1.22

  5. Persecution of the Church.
• * 1.23

  6. Generall se∣curitie.
• * 1.24

  7. Calling of the Jewes.
• * 1.25

  2. Signes imme∣diatly before Christs com∣ming.
• * 1.26

  3. In Christs comming.
• * 1.27

  Revel. 1.
• * 1.28

  2. The judge∣mentit selfe.
• * 1.29

  Two Judge∣ments.
• * 1.30

  1. Particular.
• * 1.31

  2. Generall.
• * 1.32

  Quest.
• * 1.33

  Joh. 5. 24.
• * 1.34

  Joh. 3. 18.
• * 1.35

  Answ. Necessitie of a day of judgement.
• * 1.36

  Psal. 37. Iob 24. 12.
• * 1.37

  Ier. 12.
• * 1.38

  Psal. 73. 11.
• * 1.39

  Vnbeleever condemned already how.
• * 1.40

  Revel. 20. 10, 11.
• * 1.41

  Job 15. Psal. 14. 2.
• * 1.42

  4. The end of Christs com∣ming.
• * 1.43

  The punish∣ment of the wicked.
• * 1.44

  Psal. 60. 3. Isay ult. Ezek. 28. 22. Rev. 14. 10.
• * 1.45

  Eternitie of the torment of the wicked.
• * 1.46

  Extremitie of torments.
• * 1.47

  Iam. 2:
• * 1.48

  The reward of the godly.
• * 1.49

  Isay 2.
• * 1.50

  Isay 11.
• * 1.51

  Vse 1. Comfort.
• * 1.52

  Vse 2. Terrour to the wicked. Mal. 4. 1.
• * 1.53

  Vse 3. To be fitted for the day.