The rule of faith, or, An exposition of the Apostles Creed so handled as…

For the place where the Judgement shall be, we have nothing in particular certain of the Scriptures: Some men have thought that it should be held in the valley of Jehoshaphat, which was a place near to Jerusalem: and to that purpose they allege the words of the Prophet Joel, Chap. 3. 2. But this opinion is rash and presumptuous: because that place seems to speak in particular of such Nations as afflicted the people of Israel, and the valley of Jehoshaphat seems to be named but by way of allusion: yet notwithstanding, that the Judge should sit in judgement in some place about Jerusalem, is not altogether improbable, because it increaseth the terror of the judgement, & augments the glory of Christ, to sit there as a Judge, where himself was judged. But in this no man can conclude peremptorily to make a resolute opinion ⟨p. 508⟩of it, because we have not sufficient warrant for it out of the Word. In the general it is clear by Scripture, that it shall be in some part of this nether world, either on the earth or near unto it; because, as was showed before, no unclean things, such as devils and wicked men, may enter into heaven: and besides, it increaseth the terror and justice of the Judgement, to keep the Assizes where men have offended, and to sentence them to punishment in the place where they have done their offences: as for great crimes, Judges are wont to appoint the place of punishment to be where the fact was committed. It is very probable, that the Judge will sit in the clouds of the Air near the earth, whither the Elect shall be caught up to meet the Lord, 1 Thess. 4. 17. that so the devils may be conquered & sentenced in the very place where they have all this while ruled as princes, Ephes. 2. 2. I say only it is probable, because it cannot be necessarily concluded out of the places are alleged, viz. Matth. 24. 30. 1 Thess. 4. 17.

For the place where the Iudgement shall be, we haue nothing in particular certaine of the Scriptures: Some men haue thought that it should be held in the valley of Iehoshaphat, which was a place neere to Ierusalem: and to that purpose they alledge the words of the Prophet Ioel, Chap. 3. 2. But this opinion is rash and presumptuous: because that place seemes to speake in particular of such Nations as afflicted the people of Israel, and the valley of Ichoshaphat seems to be named but by way of allusion: yet notwithstanding, that the Iudge should sit in iudgement in some place about Ierusalem, is not altogether improbable, because it increaseth the terror of the iudgement, & augments thoglory of Christ, to sit there as a Iudge, where himselfe was iudged. But in this no man can conclude peremptorily to make a resolute opinion ⟨p. 508⟩of it, because we haue not sufficient warrant for it out of the Word. In the generall it is cleare by Scripture, that it shall be in some part of this nether world, either on the earth or neere vnto it; because, as was shewed before, no vncleane things, such as deuils and wicked men, may enter into heauen: and besides, it increaseth the terror and iustice of the Iudgement, to keepe the Assises where men haue offended, and to sentence them to punishment in the place where they haue done their offences: as for great crimes, Iudges are wont to appoint the place of punishment to be where the fact was committed. It is very probable, that the Iudge will sit in the clouds of the Aire neare the earth, whither the Elect shall be caught vp to meet the Lord, 1 Thess. 4. 17. that so the deuils may be conquered & sentenced in the very place where they haue all this while ruled as princes, Ephes. 2. 2. I say only it is probable, because it cannot be necessarily concluded out of the places are alledged, viz. Matth. 24. 30. 1 Thess. 4. 17.

The sixth question is, who shall be judged? And to this I answer out of Scripture by beginning at the remotest things, and coming nearer and nearer till it reach to each of us: and so I say,

The sixt question is, who shall be iudged? And to this I answer out of Scripture by beginning at the remotest things, and comming nearer and nearer till it reach to each of vs: and so I say,

1. That this Judgement shall reach even to the unreasonable creatures: for the Apostle saith, that the heavens and the earth, and the things in them, are reserved unto fire against the day of Judgement, and the perdition of wicked men, 2 Pet. 3. 7. And it is likely the Apostle hath this meaning, Rom. 8. 19. to 23. And so partly God will be revenged on the old heavens and earth for the vanity cast upon them by wicked men, and as they were the dwelling place of the wicked: and partly, as God in justice will restore to every creature, in the sort of the creature, whatsoever they lost by the sin of Adam, and his posterity.

1. That this Iudgement shall reach euen to the vnreasonable creatures: for the Apostle saith, that the heauens and the earth, and the things in them, are reserued vnto fire against the day of Iudgement, and the perdition of wicked men, 2 Pet. 3. 7. And it is likely the Apostle hath this meaning, Rom. 8. 19. to 23. And so partly God will be reuenged on the old heauens and earth for the vanitie cast vpon them by wicked men, and as they were the dwelling place of the wicked: and partly, as God in iustice will restore to euery creature, in the sort of the creature, whatsoeuer they lost by the sinne of Adam, and his posteritie.

3. All mankind must their appear before his Tribunal: for God will judge the people, Psal. 7. 9. The ends of the earth, 1 Sam. 2. 10. The earth, 1 Chron. 16. 38. All Nations, Joel 3. 12. The round world, Psal. 9. 9. Both quick and dead, 2 Tim. 4. 1. By the quick is meant such as shall be found alive at his coming, 1 Cor. 15. 51. 1 Thess. 4. 17. And by the dead, such as have died since the beginning of the world to that day, 1 Thess. 4. 16. Reu. 20. 12, 13. so as no man or woman shall escape, 2 Cor. 5. 10. Jude 15. Against this may be objected, that all the world stands either of believers or unbelievers, and neither of those must come to judgement, and therefore none at all are to be judged: the believer hath everlasting life, and shall not come into judgement, Joh. 5. 24. and 3. 18. and the unbeliever is condemned already, and therefore needeth no further judgement. To this I answer, that the believer shall not come into judgement, that is, into the judgement of condemnation; he shall come to receive judgement of eternal absolution from all his sins and miseries. And the wicked are condemned already: First, in the counsel of God, as he appointed them to condemnation for their sins. Secondly, in the word of God, which tells him plainly of his estate and eternal misery, because he doth not repent and believe. Thirdly, in his own conscience, which is as a thousand witnesses, and doth judge him in himself as a forerunner of the last judgement: all this hinders not, but that he must appear openly at the bar of Christ, to have his sins publicly known, and sentence past upon him for all his sins: so that it remains clear, that all men since the beginning of the world must come to judgement. Yet that it may work the more effectually upon mens conscience, it will be profitable to take notice of such particular offenders, as God hath in plain terms telled them before-hand, that he will judge them at that day: and so he will judge

1. Pagans, that have sinned without the Law, they shall be ⟨p. 510⟩judged also without the Law written, by the Law of Nature, Rom. 2.

1. Pag•ns, that haue sinned without the Law, they shall be ⟨p. 510⟩iudged also without the Law written, by the Law of Nature, Rom. 2.

2. Jews and all others that receive the Law written, but deny Christ, they shall be judged by the Law, Rom. 2.

2. Iewes and all others that receiue the Law written, but deny Christ, they shall be iudged by the Law, Rom. 2.

3. Antichrist the Man of Sin shall be judged, and destroyed by the brightness of Christs coming, 2 Thess. 2.

3. Antichrist the Man of Sin shall be iudged, and destroyed by the brightnesse of Christs comming, 2 Thess. 2.

4. All that worship that Beast, and receive his mark (his mark is the Characteristical doctrines of errors and lies) they shall be cast into that Lake that burns with fire and brimstone, Reu. 19. 20. and 14. 9, 10.

4. All that worship that Beast, and receiue his marke (his marke is the Characteristicall doctrines of errors and lies) they shall be cast into that Lake that burnes with fire and brimstone, Reu. 19. 20. and 14. 9, 10.

5. All false Teachers that bring in damnable Heresies, 2 Pet. 2. 1.

6. All Apostates that sin willingly after they have received the Truth, Heb. 10. 26.

6. All Apostataes that sinne willingly after they haue receiued the Truth, Heb. 10. 26.

7. All that trouble and disquiet the godly with their malicious oppositious, 2 Thess. 1. 7.

7. All that trouble and disquiet the godly with their malitious oppositious, 2 Thess. 1. 7.

8. All Goats, that is, all unruly Christians that will not be directed by the word of God, but wilfully persist in the known breach of Gods Commandments, Matth. 25.

8. All Goats, that is, all vnruly Christians that will not be directed by the word of God, but wilfully persist in the knowne breach of Gods Commandements, Matth. 25.

9. All Hypocrites, that now go hooded and masked, Luk. 12. 1, 2. Psal. 50. 17.

9. All Hypocrites, that now goe hoodded and masked, Luk. 12. 1, 2. Psal. 50. 17.

10. All Railers, that now by scoffing and slander vilify the godly, and the good way of godliness, Psal. 50. 19. Jude 15.

10. All Railers, that now by scoffing and slander vilifie the godly, and the good way of godlinesse, Psal. 50. 19. Iude 15.

11. All Censorious and masterlike Christians, that judge other men for that they are guilty of themselves, Rom. 2. 1, 2, 3. Jam. 3. 1.

11. All Censorious and masterlike Christians, that iudge other men for that they are guilty of themselues, Rom. 2. 1, 2, 3. Iam. 3. 1.