A fourth volume containing one hundred and fifty sermons on several texts of Scripture…

3. The next Consequent is, the burning of the World; that's described at large, 2 Pet. 3.10, 11, 12. how that Fire shall come out from God, and burn and devour all things, and melt the very Firmament. Certainly that Fire is to be taken literally, for it is opposed to Water, the first Water by which the World was destroyed. Now by this Fire I conceive the World shall not be consumed, but renewed and purged, because in the everlasting State God will have all things new; he will not only have the Bodies and Souls of the Saints new, but will have new Heavens and new Earth: for it is a deliverance from the Bondage of Corruption, Rom. 8.21. If the World shall be no more the Habitation of the Saints, yet God will renew the World, that it may be a continual Monument of his Power. Now this burning of the World some place it in Preparation before the Day of Judgment; but I conceive it is a Consequent, for it seemeth to be an Instrument of Vengeance on the Wicked. I will not say with the Schoolmen, the feculent and drossy part of this Fire is reserved for the Torment of the Wicked in Hell: but in general, it shall be the Instrument of God's Vengeance upon them; so much is asserted, 2 Pet. 3.7. The Heavens and Earth that now are, by the same Word are kept in store, and reserved unto Fire against the Day of Judgment, and the Perdition of ungodly Men. There are some that say this Fire shall begin the Day of Judgment: Et causam dicent in flammis, the Wicked shall plead their Cause in Flames; but this were to execute before the Sentence. Sodom's Fire was dreadful, but nothing to this Burning. It was a dreadful Sight, when God rained Hell out of Heaven, and the poor tormented Creatures ran screeching and yelling to and fro because of those Flakes of Fire and Brimstone; but this Fire shall come out of the Throne of the Lord; Dan. 7.10. A fiery Stream issued, and came out from before him, to consume his Adversaries, and to remain in Hell with them for evermore, which will be much more dreadful. God hath Diluvium Ignis, as well as Aquae, a Deluge of Fire as well as of Water. As one saith very wittily, As at the first he drowned the World, propter ardorem libidinis, because of the Heat of Lust; so in the end he will kindle a Fire to burn the World, propter teporem charitatis, because of the Coldness of Love. The Object of your Adulteries will be burnt;