A Golden Chain

The seventh point in the proceeding of the last judgement is, the retribution or reward in these words: and they shall go into everlasting pain, and the righteous into life eternal. How do the wicked enter into hell and the godly into heaven? Answ. By the powerful and commanding voice of Christ, which ⟨p. 434⟩is of that force, that neither the greatest rebel that ever was among men, nor all the devils in hell, shall be able to withstand it. And seeing that after the day of judgement we must remain for ever either in heaven or in hell, we are to look about us and to take heed unto our hearts. Indeed if the time were but a thousand or two thousand years, then with more reason men might take liberty to themselves: but seeing it is without end we must be most careful through the whole course of our lives so to live and behave our selves, that when the day of judgement shall come, we may avoid that fearful sentence of everlasting woe and condemnation, which shall be pronounced against the wicked. And whereas all wicked men shall go to hell at Christs commandment, it teacheth us, willingly to obey the voice of Christ in the ministry of the word. For if we rebel against his voice in this world, when in the day of judgement sentence shall be pronounced against us, we shall hear an other voice, at the giving whereof, we must obey whether we will or no, and thereupon go to everlasting pain, whither we would not. Let us therefore in time deny our selves for our sins past, and only rely upon Christ Jesus for the free remission of them all; and for the time to come, lead a new reformed life.

The seuenth point in the proceeding of the last iudgement is, the retribution or reward in these words: and they shall go into euerlasting paine, and the righteous into life eternall. How doe the wicked enter into hell and the godly into heauen? Answ. By the powerfull and commaunding voice of Christ, which ⟨p. 434⟩is of that force, that neither the greatest rebell that euer was among men, nor all the deuills in hell, shall be able to withstand it. And seeing that after the day of iudgement we must remaine for euer either in heauen or in hell, we are to looke about vs and to take heed vnto our hearts. Indeede if the time were but a thousand or two thousand yeares, then with more reason men might take libertie to themselues: but seeing it is without ende we must be most carefull through the whole course of our liues so to liue and behaue our selues, that when the day of iudgement shall come, we may auoid that fearefull sentence of euerlasting woe and condemnation, which shall be pronounced against the wicked. And whereas all wicked men shall goe to hell at Christs commaundement, it teacheth vs, willingly to obey the voice of Christ in the ministerie of the word. For if we rebell against his voice in this world, when in the day of iudgement sentence shall be pronounced against vs, we shall heare an other voice, at the giuing whereof, we must obey whether we will or no, and thereupon goe to euerlasting paine, whither we would not. Let vs therfore in time denie our selues for our sinnes past, and onely relie vpon Christ Iesus for the free remission of them all; and for the time to come, lead a new reformed life.