Seeing there must be a Judgement, and we must all be judged, let us prepare our •ules for a good answer. CHRIST bad his Disciples, when they were brought before mens Judgement seats, to study no answer: but let every one study an answer before he comes to this Judgement seat. Yet alas, what answer can be made? If God contend with us, we cannot answer him one of a thousand.t Quae verba •alent contra verbum? CHRISTS word must stand. Job 31.14. What shall I do •hen God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him? If great men hour themselves more than God, Quid facient, what shall they do? If covetous •en love money more than Christ, what shall they do? If men have robbed the •ord of his Patrimony, what shall they do? Here is a Quid facient for all. Men •ve now their colours, reasons, pretences, and qualifications; but then what shall •ey answer? The wicked shall plead to Christ; we are the work of thy hands; •ut he will reply, you have lost my Image and superscription. But Lord, remember thy Passion; Yes, but this is no time of compassion. The sentence is terrible. Matth. 25.41. Depart ye cursed into everlasting fire, 2prepared for the devil and his Angels. When they shall cry; Lord, though we may not ascend with thee unto •ory, yet let us abide still on the earth, statu quo prius; nay go, Depart. If we must ⟨p. 534⟩go, let it not yet be far, not out of thy sight and gracious presence; nay depa•• from me. If we must go, and go from thee, yet let us have a blessing with us: nay, depart ye cursed. If we must go, and from thee, and with a curse, yet somewhat qualify thy anger, and let our curse be but easy: nay, depart ye cursed into Fi•• If we must depart from thee, cursed, and into fire; yet let not that fire burn long suffer it to be soon extinguished; nay, but go into Everlasting fire. If there be […] remedy, but we must go from thee the God of glory, and with a Curse, the character of infelicity: and into fire, torment in extremity: and that everlasting, without hope of recovery: yet let us have some pleasant and loving company; nay, […] the very devil and his Angels. A heavy doom, which if we desire to evade, let […] before the day of trial make sure the Judge: if we can get him our friend, we […] speed well in the Judgement.
Seeing there must be a Iudgement, and we must all be judged, let us prepare our •ules for a good answere. CHRIST bad his Disciples, when they were brought •efore mens Iudgement seates, to study no answere: but let every one study an an•were before he comes to this Iudgement seat. Yet alas, what answere can be made? If God contend with us, we cannot answere him one of a thousand.t Quae verba •alent contra verbum? CHRISTS word must stand. Iob 31.14. What shall I doe •hen God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answere him? If great men ho•ur themselves more than God, Quid facient, what shall they doe? If covetous •en love money more than Christ, what shall they doe? If men have robbed the •ord of his Patrimonie, what shall they doe? Here is a Quid facient for all. Men •ve now their colours, reasons, pretences, and qualifications; but then what shall •ey answere? The wicked shall plead to Christ; we are the worke of thy hands; •ut he will reply, you have lost my Image and superscription. But Lord, remem•er thy Passion; Yes, but this is no time of compassion. The sentence is terrible. Matth. 25.41. Depart yee cursed into everlasting fire, 2prepared for the devill and his Angels. When they shall cry; Lord, though we may not ascend with thee unto •ory, yet let us abide still on the earth, statu quo prius; nay goe, Depart. If we must ⟨p. 534⟩goe, let it not yet be farre, not out of thy sight and gracious presence; nay depa•• from me. If we must goe, and goe from thee, yet let us have a blessing with us: nay, depart yee cursed. If we must goe, and from thee, and with a curse, yet somewhat qualifie thy anger, and let our curse be but easie: nay, depart yee cursed into Fi If we must depart from thee, cursed, and into fire; yet let not that fire burne long suffer it to be soone extinguished; nay, but goe into Everlasting fire. If there be remedie, but we must goe from thee the God of glory, and with a Curse, the character of infelicitie: and into fire, torment in extremitie: and that everlasting, without hope of recoverie: yet let us have some pleasant and loving company; nay, the very devill and his Angels. A heavy doome, which if we desire to evade, let before the day of tryall make sure the Iudge: if we can get him our friend, we speed well in the Iudgement.
- tJob 9.3.Iob 9.3.
- 2Mat. 25.41.
