Therefore as touching the Judgment of the Evil and the Good, as I deny not that it is certainly true, the Lord will judge the Living and the Dead in Righteousness and Equity: So, if they understand it of the Judgment of Condemnation; ⟨p. 402⟩I answer, as the Lawyers use to say, The Exception limits the Rule. For though this Judgment is to be 1general, yet if it be taken for the condemnatory Judgment, the general Rule is of force, excepting those things that should be excepted. But what this Exception is, and to whom it belongs, it appears evident enough by the distinction of separation, mentioned by Christ in several 2places: He that hears my Word, and believes in him that sent me, shall not come into condemnation, but shall pass from death to life. And again, where the Lord fore-telling the time of his coming to Judgment, 3says thus; When these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads: And presently gives the reason thereof; for your Redemption draweth near. Wherefore did it please him to make mention of Redemption to his Disciples without naming of Judgment? Certainly it was, because, as Paul speaks, There is no Condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, as on the contrary, there is no Redemption to those who live without the Faith of Christ, in slavery to this World and the Flesh. And elsewhere the Lord, when he turned himself to his Disciples, and could promise them nothing that was more glorious and magnificent, he said unto them, Ye also shall sit upon Thrones, judging the Twelve Tribes of Israel. Moreover ⟨p. 403⟩Paul writing to the Corinthians, says, 4Know ye not that the Saints shall judge the World? And yet breathing forth something more glorious, he exalts Saints above the highest pitch of worldly dignity adding further: Know ye not that we shall judge the Angels? If the Saints shall be judges, how should they be judged in this Court of Judicature, in which they have something to do, but nothing to fear.
Therefore as touching the Iudgment of the Evil and the Good, as I deny not that it is certainly true, the Lord will judge the Living and the Dead in Righteousness and Equity: So, if they understand it of the Iudgment of Condemnation; ⟨p. 402⟩I answer, as the Lawyers use to say, The Exception limits the Rule. For though this Iudgment is to be 1general, yet if it be taken for the condemnatory Iudgment, the general Rule is of force, excepting those things that should be excepted. But what this Exception is, and to whom it belongs, it appears evident enough by the distinction of separation, mentioned by Christ in several 2places: He that hears my Word, and believes in him that sent me, shall not come into condemnation, but shall pass from death to life. And again, where the Lord fore-telling the time of his coming to Iudgment, 3says thus; When these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads: And presently gives the reason thereof; for your Redemption draweth near. Wherefore did it please him to make mention of Redemption to his Disciples without naming of Iudgment? Certainly it was, because, as Paul speaks, There is no Condemnation to them that are in Christ Iesus, as on the contrary, there is no Redemption to those who live without the Faith of Christ, in slavery to this World and the Flesh. And elsewhere the Lord, when he turned himself to his Disciples, and could promise them nothing that was more glorious and magnificent, he said unto them, Ye also shall sit upon Thrones, judging the Twelve Tribes of Israel. Moreover ⟨p. 403⟩Paul writing to the Corintbians, says, 4Know ye not that the Saints shall judge the World? And yet breathing forth something more glorious, he exalts Saints above the highest pitch of worldly dignity adding further: Know ye not that we shall judge the Angels? If the Saints shall be judges, how should they be judged in this Court of Iudicature, in which they have something to do, but nothing to fear.
- 1The Rule of Right.
- 2John 5. Luke 21.Iohn 5. Luke 21.
- 3Why the day of Judgment is called a day of Redemption.Why the day of Iudgment is called a day of Redemption.
- 4The Saints shall judge the World.
