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

As first, some make the preaching of the Gospel to all Nations to be a sign, and such a one as is yet to be performed: whereas it is clear by that of the Apostle, Col. 1. 6. that that promise was accomplished in the Apostles days. For all Nations in that text, Matth. 24. 14. stand opposed to the country of the Jews, that whereas in former times and then, the Gospel was only preached to Jews, the time should come, and that shortly, that it should be preached all the world over, that is, in many other Countries. There is no necessity to understand it so, that every particular Nation in the world should have the Gospel preached to them; or if it were, it must not be meant of any one time, but successively at one time or other. Again, some make the security of the world, which our Saviour likens to the security of the old world, Matth. 24. to be a sign; whereas that is spoken of by way of complaint of the carelessness of men that would not awaken, no not when his coming was near at hand: for otherwaies the world is always secure, and wicked men are always so minded: and therefore it cannot be a sign that hath no distinction in it.

As first, some make the preaching of the Gospell to all Nations to be a signe, and such a one as is yet to be performed: whereas it is cleare by that of the Apostle, Col. 1. 6. that that promise was accomplished in the Apostles daies. For all Nations in that text, Matth. 24. 14. stand opposed to the countrey of the Iewes, that whereas in former times and then, the Gospell was onely preached to Iewes, the time should come, and that shortly, that it should be preached all the world ouer, that is, in many other Countryes. There is no necessity to vnderstand it so, that euery particular Nation in the world should haue the Gospell preached to them; or if it were, it must not be meant of any one time, but successiuely at one time or other. Againe, some make the security of the world, which our Sauiour likens to the security of the old world, Matth. 24. to be a signe; whereas that is spoken of by way of complaint of the carelesnesse of men that would not awaken, no not when his comming was neer at hand: for otherwaies the world is alwaies secure, and wicked men are alwaies so minded: and therefore it cannot bee a signe that hath no distinction in it.

Again, some make that a sign, that when Christ comes, he shall not find faith upon earth, Luk. 18. which place is not meant of his second coming, but of his coming to avenge the quarrel of his Elect that suffer in all ages: And the want of faith he complains of, is not to be understood simply, but in that respect which he intends in the Parable before: and so his meaning is, that th••e are few of the very elect themselves that have so much faith, as to persist in prayer, & to resolve to overcome God by importunity, and not to be discouraged, though God seem not to hear their prayers, and put off a great while before he deliver them.

Againe, some make that a signe, that when Christ comes, he shall not finde faith vpon earth, Luk. 18. which place is not meant of his second comming, but of his comming to auenge the quarrell of his Elect that suffer in all ages: And the want of faith he complaines of, is not to be vnderstood simply, but in that respect which hee intends in the Parable before: and so his meaning is, that th••e are few of the very elect themselues that haue so much faith, as to persist in praier, & to resolue to ouercome God by importunity, and not to be discouraged, though God seeme not to heare their praiers, and put off a great while before he deliuer them.

Again, some make the persecutions mentioned, Mat. 24. 9. and the wars and other plagues mentioned, vers. 6. and the decay of love in many, vers. 12. and the rising of false Prophets and false Christs, vers. 24. to be all several ⟨p. 513⟩signs: whereas these were accomplished before or about the time of the final destruction of Jerusalem, as is plain in the text: for he speaks not of the signs of his coming till the 29 vers. and besides, it is said they shall be accomplished before that generation pass, vers. 34.

Againe, some make the persecutions mentioned, Mat. 24. 9. and the warres and other plagues mentioned, vers. 6. and the decay of loue in many, vers. 12. and the rising of false Prophets and false Christs, vers. 24. to bee all seuerall ⟨p. 513⟩signes: whereas these were accomplished before or about the time of the finall destruction of Ierusalem, as is plaine in the text: for hee speakes not of the signes of his comming till the 29 vers. and besides, it is said they shall be accomplished before that generation passe, vers. 34.

The first is the signs of certain Antichrists, that is, special false and heretical teachers, professing the Christian religion, which should teach doctrine that deprived the souls of men, of the benefit of redemption by Christ: and these Antichrists were but fore-runners of the great Antichrist. This Saint John makes a sign, and this sign was accomplished, or began to be so, while yet S. John was alive, 1 Joh. 2. 18.

The first is the signes of certaine Antichrists, that is, speciall false and hereticall teachers, professing the Christian religion, which should teach doctrine that depriued the soules of men, of the benefit of redemption by Christ: and these Antichrists were but fore-runners of the great Antichrist. This Saint Iohn makes a signe, and this signe was accomplished, or began to be so, while yet S. Iohn was aliue, 1 Ioh. 2. 18.

The second sign is given by S. Paul, 2 Thes. 2. 3, 4. and that is a general Apostasy of men in the visible Church, from the soundness of religion: and this was accomplished under Arrius, and the many ages of the Papacy.

The second signe is giuen by S. Paul, 2 Thes. 2. 3, 4. and that is a generall Apostasie of men in the visible Church, from the soundnesse of religion: and this was accomplished vnder Arrius, and the many ages of the Papacy.

The third sign is the revealing and discovering of Antichrist, and the making of it known who was that great Antichrist, 2 Thes. 2. 4. and this was done by Gods two witnesses, that is, by a few choice Instruments that God raised up in the very times of this Apostasy, to preach and teach, that the Pope was Antichrist, and this was done in several ages of that Apostasy.

The third signe is the reuealing and discouering of Antichrist, and the making of it knowne who was that great Antichrist, 2 Thes. 2. 4. and this was done by Gods two witnesses, that is, by a few choise Instruments that God raised vp in the very times of this Apostasie, to preach and teach, that the Pope was Antichrist, and this was done in seuerall ages of that Apostasie.

The fourth sign is the preaching again of the everlasting Gospel, and the public profession of reformed religion, Rev. 14. 6. 7. and 15. 1, 2, 3. and this began in the age next before us that now live, in the ministry of Luther, Zwinglius, and divers other.

The fourth signe is the preaching againe of the euerlasting Gospel, and the publike profession of reformed religion, Rev. 14. 6. 7. and 15. 1, 2, 3. and this began in the age next before vs that now liue, in the ministery of Luther, Zwinglius, and diuers other.

The fifth sign is the fall of Babylon, not only in respect of the consumption of the body of it, which hath been a doing by the word of Gods servants now this 100. years, but also in respect of the destruction of the seat of that Whore of Babylon (the Pope) and the dissolving of his visible government, 2 Thes. 2. Rev. 18. and 14. 8. This (in the latter part of it) is yet to come, and will be accomplished at a time appointed, in the day that is called, The day of the great Battle of the Lord God Almighty; when by the sword of Princes he shall destroy that City of Rome, which hath been the very Throne of the Beast, and of the Whore, Rev. 16. 14. 16. and 17. 17.

The fift signe is the fall of Babylon, not onely in respect of the consumption of the body of it, which hath been a doing by the word of Gods seruants now this 100. yeares, but also in respect of the destruction of the seat of that Whore of Babylon (the Pope) and the dissoluing of his visible gouernment, 2 Thes. 2. Rev. 18. and 14. 8. This (in the latter part of it) is yet to come, and will bee accomplished at a time appointed, in the day that is called, The day of the great Battell of the Lord God Almighty; when by the sword of Princes hee shall destroy that City of Rome, which hath beene the very Throne of the Beast, and of the Whore, Rev. 16. 14. 16. and 17. 17.

The sixth sign, is a fearful corruption of manners in the men of the world, foretold, 2 Tim. 3. 1, 2, 3. This I reckon as a sign, because I see all sorts of Writers have a great mind to it: but I take it to be so, not because the sins there mentioned shall be then found in the world, for they have been always in the world, but in a threefold respect: First, because all those sorts of sin shall reign at once in the world. Secondly, because men shall grow in a high degree abominable in sinning, so as to over-pass the former times in the unheard excess in sinning. Thirdly, because the corruptions of manners shall be found in all estates and degrees of men, and this sign I think belongs to this age: I suppose there was never any age wherein men were grown generally so monstrous, drunkenness, whoredom, swearing, falsehood, and deceit, besides the sins mentioned in the Apostles catalogue: and these things do so provoke the Judge, and dare him to his face, that sure his coming cannot be long deferred, but he will hasten the rest of the signs, to be revenged of so wicked a world.

The sixt signe, is a fearfull corruption of manners in the men of the world, foretold, 2 Tim. 3. 1, 2, 3. This I reckon as a signe, because I see all sorts of Writers haue a great minde to it: but I take it to be so, not because the sinnes there mentioned shall be then found in the world, for they haue been alwaies in the world, but in a threefold respect: First, because all those sorts of sinne shall reigne at once in the world. Secondly, because men shall grow in a high degree abhominable in sinning, so as to ouer-passe the formet times in the vnheard excesse in sinning. Thirdly, because the corruptions of manners shall bee found in all estates and degrees of men, and this signe I thinke belongs to this age: I suppose there was neuer any age wherein men were growne generally so monstrous, drunkennesse, whordome, swearing, falshood, and deceit, besides the sinnes mentioned in the Apostles catalogue: and these things do so prouoke the Iudge, and dare him to his face, that sure his comming cannot be long deferred, but he will hasten the rest of the signes, to be reuenged of so wicked a world.

The seventh sign is yet to come, and that is the calling of the Nation of the Jews, which, that it shall be, is plain by the Prophecy of S. Paul, Rom. 11. but how this shall be performed, and when, I suppose it cannot be determined by Scripture.

The seuenth signe is yet to come, and that is the calling of the Nation of the Iewes, which, that it shall be, is plaine by the Prophecy of S. Paul, Rom. 11. but how this shall bee performed, and when, I suppose it cannot be determined by Scripture.

The last sign I take it, will be but a very little time before his coming, and that will be some fearful alterations ⟨p. 515⟩in the powers of heaven, and in the air, and in the earth, and seas: but what these will be it is hard to conjecture, and the rather, because S. John tells of the noise of seven Thunders that were uttered before the end of the world; but he was forbidden to utter them, but to let them be sealed up, and kept unknown from the world, yea, and from the Church too, Rev. 10. 5. Matth. 24. 29, 30. It is very probable that this sign will be accomplished in the very letter, as it is recorded by the Evangelist.

The last signe I take it, will bee but a very little time before his comming, and that will be some fearefull alterations ⟨p. 515⟩in the powers of heauen, and in the ayre, and in the earth, and seas: but what these will be it is hard to coniecture, and the rather, because S. Iohn tells of the noise of seuen Thunders that were vttered before the end of the world; but he was forbidden to vtter them, but to let them be sealed vp, and kept vnknowne from the world, yea, and from the Church too, Rev. 10. 5. Matth. 24. 29, 30. It is very probable that this signe will be accomplished in the very letter, as it is recorded by the Euangelist.

Thus of the signs going before our Saviours coming to judgment: The signs joined with his setting out to come to judgment are these; the first is, a special sign of the Son of man, which shall be in heaven, and visible to all men on earth: but what this sign shall be, is unknown, and I am unwilling to trouble the Reader with rehearsing the several conjectures of Interpreters, seeing they are without warrant from the Word. The second sign is, the wailing and lamentation of all Nations, when they behold Christ coming in the clouds of heaven, Matth. 24. 30. Some Divines make the firing of the World to be a sign belonging to Christs coming forth to judgment: but that cannot be so, because it is not probable, that devils and wicked men shall be in the new earth, or the new heavens, for there must dwell nothing but righteousness; and therefore this firing of the world, is to be reckoned as a consequent of the Judgment.

Thus of the signes going before our Sauiours comming to iudgment: The signes ioyned with his setting out to come to iudgment are these; the first is, a speciall signe of the Sonne of man, which shall bee in heauen, and visible to all men on earth: but what this signe shall bee, is vnknowne, and I am vnwilling to trouble the Reader with rehearsing the seuerall coniectures of Interpreters, seeing they are without warrant from the Word. The second signe is, the wailing and lamentation of all Nations, when they behold Christ comming in the clouds of heauen, Matth. 24. 30. Some Diuines make the firing of the World to be a signe belonging to Christs comming forth to iudgment: but that cannot be so, because it is not probable, that deuils and wicked men shall be in the new earth, or the new heauens, for there must dwell nothing but righteousnesse; and therefore this firing of the world, is to bee reckoned as a consequent of the Iudgment.

Thus of the Signs.

Thus of the Signes.

The last point to be opened is the form and manner of the last Judgment, and here four things are orderly to be inquired into:

The last point to be opened is the forme and manner of the last Iudgment, and here foure things are orderly to be inquired into:

1. The manner of the preparation to the Judgment. 2. The manner of the trial of the causes to be tried there. 3. The manner of the sentence upon all sorts of men. 4. The execution of the sentence.

1. The manner of the preparation to the Iudgment. 2. The manner of the triall of the causes to be tried there. 3. The manner of the sentence vpon all sorts of men. 4. The execution of the sentence.