Institutions of Christian religion framed out of Gods word, and the writings of the best diuines, methodically handled by questions and answers, fit for all such as desire to know, or practise the will of God. Written in Latin by William Bucanus Professor of Diuinitie in the Vniuersitie of Lausanna. And published in English by Robert Hill, Bachelor in Diuinitie, and Fellow of Saint Iohns Colledge in Cambridge, for the benefit of our English nation, to which is added in the end the practise of papists against Protestant princes.

VVhat is signified in the Scriptures, by the word, Iudgement?

1 COmmonly to iudge, is to deeme & to thinke: and iudgement is taken for the opinion or meaning of the minde.

2 It may be knowne what it is, by the con∣trarie thereof: for to iudge, and to saue are contrary: as therefore to saue is to free one from destruction, and to giue life: so 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to iudge, is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to condemne, to destroy, & to giue cause of condēnation. In which sense it is vsed, Ioh. 3.17. God sent not his sonne into the vvorld, that he should iudge the vvorld, that is that he should cōdemne, or rather be the cause of condemnation, but that the vvorld might bee saued through him: Whereupon iudgement is vsed for the cause of condemnation, vers. 19. This is the condemnation, that that light came into the world, and men loued darknesse rather then that light. And for 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 con∣demnation. Ioh. 5, 24. He that beleeueth in me, hath life eternall, and shall not come into condemnation.

3 To iudge, is to rule and gouerne, as Iud. 3.10. and in other chapters, where iudgement is taken for Rule, and for the minde of the iudge, and for equitie, or for that which is iust and righta 1.1. And the iudge for the Magistrateb 1.2. And first, surely when iudgement is attribured to God, it is taken for the ful Rule, vniuersal gouernment and administration, wherewith the whole world standeth sure, is preserued and gouernedc 1.3. 2. For the gouernment, and well orde∣red state of the Church, whereby the father manifesteth the Gos∣pell through the sonne, maintaineth the ministerie, bestoweth the

holy Ghost, quickeneth the deade, by the word, euen from the beginning to this day, prepareth a kingdome for the sonne, that is, the Church, Mat. 12, 18, Behold my seruant whome I haue cho∣sen, I will put my spirit on him, and he shall shew iudgement to the Gen∣tiles. 3. For Gods vengeance and punishment on sin, & sinnersd 1.4. 4. For Gods preceps or commandementse 1.5.

5 To iudge, doth signifie to reprehend others faultes by the example of ones owne vertuef 1.6. Luk. 22, 30. The Apostles shall iudge the twelue tribes of Israell, that is the Apostles faith and Doctrine shal take all excuse away from the Israelites. So Ro. 2.27

6. To iudge, doth properly belong to the Iudge, when he gi∣ueth sentence, whereby either he condemneth or iustifieth one, that is, he doth indeede condemne by pronouncing him guiltie of the fault, and by adiudging him to punishment: but he doth iusti∣fie, when he freeth any one from the crime, and punishments due to the crime. And in this sense, iudgement is the Lords cēsure free∣ing the elect and pronouncing them heires of eternall life, but cō∣demning the reprobate.

Notes

• a 1.1

  luk. 11.42.
• b 1.2

  Exod. 2, 14 & all through,
• c 1.3

  Ioh. 5, 22 27, 30 Gen. 18.25
• d 1.4

  1, Pet, 4, 17
• e 1.5

  Psal. 19.9. &, 119, 13 30, &, throughout,
• f 1.6

  Math, 12, 27, 41, 42. &c, 19.28.