The sum of Christian religion, delivered by Zacharias Ursinus first, by way of catechism,…The summe of Christian religion, delivered by Zacharias Ursinus first, by way of catechism,…

7. What shall be the process of the last Judgment, and the sentence and execution of it.

7. What shall be the processe of the last Judgment, and the sentence and execution of it.

1. BY the virtue and divine power of Christ, and by his humane voice the dead shall be raised.¹ For, All that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and they shall come forth. The living shall be changed, and their mortal bodies shall be made immortal, and they shall be gathered from the four coasts of the world. §22. By the ministry of the Angels all shall be presented before Christs throne. For by the Angels, as by those reapers, Christ shall gather the godly and the wicked from the four coasts of the world, and they shall appear before him. This shall he do by the Angels, not of necessity, but with authority: not as if he had need of the Angels ministry, but thereby to show himself to be Lord of the Angels and of all creatures: and this shall be for the majesty and glory of our Judge. §33. The world, heaven, and earth, shall be dissolved by fire: there shall be a change of this present state, and a purifying of the creatures, but not a consuming or utter abolishing of them all. §44. There shall be a separation of the godly from the ungodly, and sentence shall be given of both. Sentence shall be given (which also we did touch before in the second question) on the wicked principally, according to the Law: yet so, as it shall be with the approbation of the Gospel. Sentence shall be given on the godly principally, according to the Gospel; yet so, that the Law shall allow and like of it. The Elect shall hear the sentence out of the Gospel, according to the merit of Christ apprehended of them by faith, the testimonies of which faith shall be good works. Come ye blessed possess ye the kingdom. ²But the wicked shall hear the terrible and dreadful voice: Go ye cursed into everlasting fire. §55. There shall be a casting of the wicked into everlasting pains, and an advancing of the godly to everlasting happiness and glory. For then shall Christ perfectly glorify us, and shall take us unto himself. I will come again, ³and receive you unto my self. We shall be caught up with them also in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord. The wicked shall be cast apart from the godly, with the Devils, and shall be adjudged to eternal pains. Object. He that believeth not, is condemned already: Therefore the wicked are even now already condemned, and shall not then first be condemned. Ans.

1. BY the vertue and divine power of Christ, and by his humane voice the dead shall be raised.¹ For, All that are in the graves shall heare his voice, and they shall come forth. The living shall be changed, and their mortall bodies shall be made immortall, and they shall be gathered from the foure coasts of the world. §22. By the ministery of the Angels all shall be presented before Christs throne. For by the Angels, as by those reapers, Christ shall gather the godly and the wicked from the foure coasts of the world, and they shall appeare before him. This shall he doe by the Angels, not of necessity, but with authority: not as if he had need of the Angels ministery, but thereby to shew himself to be Lord of the Angels and of all creatures: and this shall be for the majesty and glory of our Judge. §33. The world, heaven, and earth, shall be dissolved by fire: there shall be a change of this present state, and a purifying of the creatures, but not a consuming or utter abolishing of them all. §44. There shall be a separation of the godly from the ungodly, and sentence shall be given of both. Sentence shall be given (which also we did touch before in the second question) on the wicked principally, according to the Law: yet so, as it shall be with the approbation of the Gospel. Sentence shall be given on the godly principally, according to the Gospel; yet so, that the Law shall allow and like of it. The Elect shall heare the sentence out of the Gospel, according to the merit of Christ apprehended of them by faith, the testimonies of which faith shall be good works. Come yee blessed possesse ye the kingdom. ²But the wicked shall heare the terrible and dreadfull voice: Goe ye cursed into everlasting fire. §55. There shall be a casting of the wicked into everlasting paines, and an advancing of the godly to everlasting happinesse and glory. For then shall Christ perfectly glorifie us, and shall take us unto himselfe. I will come againe, ³and receive you unto my selfe. Wee shall be caught up with them also in the clouds to meete the Lord in the aire, and so shall wee ever be with the Lord. The wicked shall be cast apart from the godly, with the Divels, and shall be adjudged to eternall paines. Object. Hee that beleeveth not, is condemned already: Therefore the wicked are even now already condemned, and shall not then first be condemned. Ans.

1. 1John. 5.28. 1 Cor. 15.53.
2. 2Mat. 25.34, 35.
3. 3John 14.3. 1 Thes. 4.17.

8. For what causes this judgement shall be.

The chief and principal cause is the decree of God. For therefore shall the last judgment be, because God hath said, and decreed that it shall be. Wherefore it must needs be so: §11. That so God may have his end. §22. That he may show and declare perfectly and wholly his goodness and love towards us, that he may be worshipped in his temple, which is, in his chosen, that the Son of God may have his kingdom, and his citizens glorious, and such as beseem him. 2. A less principal and subordinate cause is, both The salvation of the Elect, who are here vexed, and the ⟨p. 333⟩damnation of the wicked, who here do flourish; for therefore also shall the last judgement be, that it may go well with the good and ill with the bad: And of this shall the godly take matter to magnify and praise God. §33. The last judgement shall be because of Gods justice. Here is not a full and perfect execution of Gods justice, for the wicked must be in perfect and full evil state both in body and soul. In a word, the causes of the last judgement are, That God may utterly cast away the wicked, deliver and free his Church, dwell in us, and be all in all things.

THe chiefe and principall cause is the decree of God. For therefore shall the last judgment be, because God hath said, and decreed that it shall be. Wherefore it must needs be so: §11. That so God may have his end. §22. That he may shew and declare perfectly and wholly his goodnesse and love towards us, that he may be worshipped in his temple, which is, in his chosen, that the Son of God may have his kingdome, and his citizens glorious, and such as beseem him. 2. A lesse principall and subordinate cause is, both The salvation of the Elect, who are here vexed, and the ⟨p. 333⟩damnation of the wicked, who here doe flourish; for therefore also shall the last judgement be, that it may go well with the good and ill with the bad: And of this shall the godly take matter to magnifie and praise God. §33. The last judgement shall be because of Gods justice. Here is not a full and perfect execution of Gods justice, for the wicked must be in perfect and full evill state both in body and soul. In a word, the causes of the last judgement are, That God may utterly cast away the wicked, deliver and free his Church, dwell in us, and be all in all things.

9. When the judgement shall be.

1. This judgement shall be in the end of the world, in the end of days: For there are three parts of the during and continuance of the world: 1. Before the Law. 2. Under the Law. 3. Under Christ. That part of the during of the world which is under Christ, is called the end of the world, the end of days, the last time: namely, the continuance of time from Christs first coming, until his second: Wherefore there shall not be so long space between Christs first coming and his second, as was from the beginning of the world unto his first coming: for we are fallen into the last days, and daily see the signs which were fore-told concerning the judgement: Babes, it is the last time, and as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come, ¹even now are there many Antichrists; whereby we know that this is the last time. But the year, the month, the day of this judgement is not known of Christ himself, 1. As touching his humane nature. 2. As touching his office and Mediatorship, inasmuch as that requireth not, that he should declare unto us the time of judgement:² Of that day and hour knoweth no man, no not the Angels which are in heaven, neither the Son himself, save the Father.

1. THis judgement shall be in the end of the world, in the end of dayes: For there are three parts of the during and continuance of the world: 1. Before the Law. 2. Under the Law. 3. Under Christ. That part of the during of the world which is under Christ, is called the end of the world, the end of dayes, the last time: namely, the continuance of time from Christs first coming, untill his second: Wherefore there shall not be so long space between Christs first coming and his second, as was from the beginning of the world unto his first coming: for we are fallen into the last dayes, and daily see the signes which were fore-told concerning the judgement: Babes, it is the last time, and as yee have heard that Antichrist shall come, ¹even now are there many Antichrists; whereby wee know that this is the last time. But the yeer, the moneth, the day of this judgement is not known of Christ himselfe, 1. As touching his humane nature. 2. As touching his office and Mediatorship, inasmuch as that requireth not, that he should declare unto us the time of judgement:

10. Wherefore God would have us certain of the last judgement.

The time of the judgement to come is unknown to us; but as it is most certain that that judgement shall come, so God also would have us know the same, 1. In respect of his glory: that we might be able to refute Epicures, who account this heavenly Doctrine of the divine judgement to come for a fable; and from the confusion which now is in the world, infer, that the world is not governed by God; or if so, then he is unjust; for, It should go well, say they, with the righteous: But it doth not so: Therefore God either cannot perform it, or standeth not to his promises, or there is no providence. Unto which their cavil we answer; That because in this life it goeth not well with the godly, it shall go well with them at length after this life. 2. God will have us know it for our comfort: that we may comfort our selves amidst our evils and miseries with this, that at length shall come a time when we shall be delivered out of this corruption and rottenness. 3. That we may retain and keep our selves in the fear of God, and our duty, and that others also may be reclaimed from evil. This judgement shall be: let us endeavour therefore that we may be able to stand in this judgement. The Scripture useth this argument both ways, both to comfort us, and to hold and keep us in our duty. Christ shall at length judge the wicked and our enemies; suffer we therefore patiently persecutions.¹ We shall all appear before the judgement seat of Christ: therefore live we godly.² Watch therefore and pray continually, that ye may be counted worthy to escape all those things which shall come to pass, and that ye may stand before the Son of man. ³Seeing therefore that all these things must be dissolved, what manner persons ought ye to be in holy conversation and godliness? 4. That the wicked may be left excuselesse: for they are warned sufficiently, that they should be ready at every season, lest they should say, they were oppressed unawares.

THe time of the judgement to come is unknown to us; but as it is most certaine that that judgement shall come, so God also would have us know the same, 1. In respect of his glory: that wee might be able to refute Epicures, who account this heavenly Doctrine of the divine judgement to come for a fable; and from the confusion which now is in the world, inferre, that the world is not governed by God; or if so, then hee is unjust; for, It should goe well, say they, with the righteous: But it doth not so: Therefore God either cannot performe it, or standeth not to his promises, or there is no providence. Unto which their cavill we answer; That because in this life it goeth not well with the godly, it shall goe well with them at length after this life. 2. God will have us know it for our comfort: that we may comfort our selves amidst our evils and miseries with this, that at length shall come a time when wee shall be delivered out of this corruption and rottennesse. 3. That wee may retain and keep our selves in the feare of God, and our duty, and that others also may be reclaimed from evill. This judgement shall be: let us endeavour therefore that we may be able to stand in this judgement. The Scripture useth this argument both wayes, both to comfort us, and to hold and keep us in our duty. Christ shall at length judge the wicked and our enemies; suffer wee therefore patiently persecutions.

11. For what cause God would not have us certain of the time of judgement.

Albeit it be most certain that the last judgement shall at length be; yet the day of that judgement is altogether uncertain:¹ Of that day and hour no man knoweth, no not the Angels which are in heaven, nor the Son himself, save the Father. Now the causes why God would have it hid from us are these: §11. That he might exercise our faith and patience, and so we should show that we would believe God, and persevere in the expectation of his promise, albeit we know not the time of our delivery. §22. That he might bridle our curiosity. §33. That he might keep us in his fear, in godliness, and in executing of our duty: and so we should be no way secure, but ready every moment, because were are uncertain when the Lord will come. §44. That the very wicked might not defer and prolong repentance, seeing they know not the hour;² lest perhaps the day overtake them unawares: If the good man of the house knew at what watch the thief would come, he would surely watch. Watch therefore; for ye know neither the day nor the hour when the Son of man will come. ³Occupy till I come.

ALbeit it be most certain that the last judgement shall at length be; yet the day of that judgement is altogether uncertain:¹ Of that day and hour no man knoweth, no not the Angels which are in heaven, nor the Son himself, save the Father. Now the causes why God would have it hid from us are these: §11. That he might exercise our faith and patience, and so wee should shew that wee would beleeve God, and persevere in the expectation of his promise, albeit we know not the time of our delivery. §22. That he might bridle our curiosity. §33. That hee might keep us in his fear, in godlinesse, and in executing of our duty: and so we should be no way secure, but ready every moment, because were are uncertain when the Lord will come.

12. For what cause God deferreth that judgement.

He deferreth it, §11. To exercise faith, patience, hope, and prayer in the godly. §22. That all the elect may be gathered to the Church: For in respect of them, and not in respect of the wicked, doth the world continue; for the creatures were made for the children of the house: the wicked use them as thieves and robbers: But when the whole number of the Church is fulfilled and gathered together, then shall be the end. Now God will have the elect gathered by ordinary means; he will have them in this life to hear the word, and by it be renewed and converted; to which is required some tract of time. §33. He deferreth it, that he might grant unto all a time and space of repentance, as in Noah's time: and that his deferring might leave the wicked and obstinate without excuse:¹ Despisest thou the riches of his bountifulness, and patience, and long sufferance, not knowing that the bountifulness of God leadeth thee to repentance? God suffereth with patience the vessels of wrath prepared to destruction.

HEe deferreth it, §11. To exercise faith, patience, hope, and prayer in the godly. §22. That all the elect may be gathered to the Church: For in respect of them, and not in respect of the wicked, doth the world continue; for the creatures were made for the children of the house: the wicked use them as theeves and robbers: But when the whole number of the Church is fulfilled and gathered together, then shall be the end. Now God will have the elect gathered by ordinary means; he will have them in this life to hear the word, and by it be renewed and converted; to which is required some tract of time. §33. Hee deferreth it, that hee might grant unto all a time and space of repentance, as in Noahs time: and that his deferring might leave the wicked and obstinate without excuse:¹ Despisest thou the riches of his bountifulnesse, and patience, and long sufferance, not knowing that the bountifulnesse of God leadeth thee to repentance? God suffereth with patience the vessels of wrath prepared to destruction.

13. Whether the last judgement be to be wished for.

WE are doubt less to wish for the day of judgment, because it is an undoubted sign and token of that difference whereby the elect are discerned from the reprobate; which declaration the godly do earnestly desire. Moreover, it shall be a delivery out of those miseries in which we are:¹ O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death? ²The Spirit and the Bride say, Come Lord Jesus: which they say not, who are not ready to receive the Lord; for the wicked tremble and shake at the mention of that judgment.

WE are doubt lesse to wish for the day of judgment, because it is an undoubted signe and token of that difference whereby the elect are discerned from the reprobate; which declaration the godly do earnestly desire. Moreover, it shall be a delivery out of those miseries in which wee are:¹ O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death? ²The Spirit and the Bride say, Come Lord Jesu: which they say not, who are not ready to receive the Lord; for the wicked tremble and shake at the mention of that judgment.

1. 1Rom. 7.24.
2. 2Revel. 22.17.