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

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.

The Preparation, as it respects the Judge, hath in it four things:

The Preparation, as it respects the Iudge, hath in it foure things:

1. The Commission or singular power given to Christ for the execution of this judgment upon all the world, Joh. 5. 22. This Commission was granted him in his first coming, and shall now be manifested to all men and Angels, before he enter upon the Judgment, as we see is done by earthly Judges.

1. The Commission or singular power giuen to Christ for the execution of this iudgment vpon all the world, Ioh. 5. 22. This Commission was granted him in his first comming, and shall now be manifested to all men and Angels, before he enter vpon the Iudgment, as we see is done by earthly Iudges.

2. The clothing of the Humane nature with unsearchable glory and majesty, above the glory of all men and Angels, which glory our Saviour calls, The glory of his Father, when he said, He should come in the glory of his Father, Matth. 16. 27.

2. The cloathing of the Humane nature with vnsearchable glory and maiestie, aboue the glory of all men and Angels, which glory our Sauiour calls, The glory of his Father, when he said, He should come in the glory of his Father, Matth. 16. 27.

3. The attendance of thousand thousands of Angels that shall show themselves in the perfection of their glory, waiting upon him, Jude 15. Dan. 7. 10. 2 Thes. 1. 7. Matth. 25. 31.

3. The attendance of thousand thousands of Angels that shall shew themselues in the perfection of their glory, waiting vpon him, Iude 15. Dan. 7. 10. 2 Thes. 1. 7. Matth. 25. 31.

4. The erecting of a most glorious Throne, wherein he will sit as Judge, which he calls, The Throne of his glory, Matth. 25. 31. which is resembled by the glory of earthly Princes, which sit in Thrones of Estate, when they would show their Majesty to their people. Which Throne will be the more glorious, because before the erecting of it, all earthly Thrones shall be cast down, Dan. 7. 9. We must not be curious to enquire, what this Throne shall be made of, Daniel saith, It is like a fiery flame, Dun. 7. 9.

4. The erecting of a most glorious Throne, wherein he will sit as Iudge, which hee calls, The Throne of his glorie, Matth. 25. 31. which is resembled by the glory of earthly Princes, which sit in Thrones of Estate, when they would shew their Maiestie to their people. Which Throne will be the more glorious, because before the erecting of it, all earthly Thrones shall bee cast downe, Dan. 7. 9. We must not be curious to enquire, what this Throne shall bee made of, Daniel saith, It is like a fiery flame, Dun. 7. 9.

Thus of the preparation of the Judge.

Thus of the preparation of the Iudge.

The preparation in respect of the Judged, hath likewise four things, viz.

The preparation in respect of the Iudged, hath likewise foure things, viz.

1. The Citation of the world to come to judgment: and the world is three ways summoned to come to judgment; First, by the ministry of the Fathers and Prophets in the old Testament, that from the beginning of the world cited men to appear before the judgment Seat of God; Enoch began before the Flood, Jude 15. and others followed in every age, as hath been showed before. Secondly, by the ministry of Christ himself, and the Apostles, ⟨p. 517⟩and the ordinary ministry of the Preachers of the Gospel, in all the ages under the Gospel, till the end of the World. Now the last summons is this, which shall be given at that instant when Christ is come in the clouds of heaven, and set in his Throne, and this shall be performed by a shout from heaven, and by the sound of the last Trumpet: This cry or summons is called, The voice of Christ, Joh. 5. 28. 1 Thes. 4. 16. and yet it seem sit shall be performed by the ministry of Angels, Matth. 24. 31. He that employs the ministry of men to call the World to repentance in this life, will use the ministry of Angels to bring those men to judgment, especially such as have not repented of their evil ways.

1. The Citation of the world to come to iudgment: and the world is three waies summoned to come to iudgment; First, by the ministery of the Fathers and Prophets in the old T•stament, that from the beginning of the world cited men to appeare before the iudgment Seat of God; Henoch began before the Flood, Iude 15. and others followed in euery age, as hath beene shewed before. Secondly, by the ministery of Christ himselfe, and the Apostles, ⟨p. 517⟩and the ordinary ministery of the Preachers of the Gospell, in all the ages vnder the Gospell, till the end of the World. Now the last summons is this, which shall be giuen at that instant when Christ is come in the clouds of heauen, and set in his Throne, and this shall bee performed by a shout from heauen, and by the sound of the last Trumpet: This cry or summons is called, The voice of Christ,

2. The Resurrection of the dead, under which I comprehend the change of the living: for upon this voice all dead men shall receive their souls into their own bodies, & be quickened, and rise out of the Graves, or other places of the earth, or waters wherein they have lien, Rev. 20. 13. and those that shall be then alive shall be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the sound of the last Trump: and this change shall be in stead of death, and a kind of resurrection: they shall be changed, not in the substance, but in the qualities of their bodies, corruption putting on incorruption, and mortality putting on immortality, 1 Cor. 15. 53.

2. The Resurtection of the dead, vnder which I comprehend the change of the liuing: for vpon this voice all dead men shall receiue their soules into their owne bodies, & be quickned, and rise out of the Graues, or other places of the earth, or waters wherin they haue lyen, Rev. 20. 13. and those that shall bee then aliue shall bee changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the sound of the last Trumpe: and this change shall bee in stead of death, and a kind of resurrection: they shall bee changed, not in the substance, but in the qualities of their bodies, corruption putting on incorruption, and mortality putting on immortality, 1 Cor. 15. 53.

3. The collection of all the world of men, and evil Angels: for the Angels of Christ shall gather together into one place from all the four winds of heaven, even from all the parts of the world, all them that were raised or changed, even all both elect and reprobate, Matth. 24. 31. and 25. 32.

3. The collection of all the world of men, and euill Angels: for the Angels of Christ shall gather together into one place from all the foure winds of heauen, euen from all the parts of the world, all them that were raised or changed, euen all both elect and reprobate, Matth. 24. 31. and 25. 32.

4. The separation of the good from the bad, which shall be performed by Christ himself, which knows the hearts of all men before the trial, even then when they are brought in by the Angels, and before he proceed to the trial of all mens causes, Matth. 25. 32. Where by the way divers things may be noted: as first, that wicked men to their terror shall then have that done by Christ, which ⟨p. 518⟩now in their malice and jollity they so much strive to do themselves. Now they shun the godly, and think the Townes the worse to live in where they are settled, especially if they be any number of them: at that day as their grievous punishment they shall have the godly taken from them, never more to live amongst them. Secondly, we gather hence, that there shall never be a perfect separation, no not in the best Churches on earth, of the good from the bad; only at the day of Judgement it shall be perfectly made: This is showed by the Parables of the Tares and good corn, and of the Draw-net that catcheth both bad and good fish. Thirdly, note the titles given to both sorts of people; Christ calls the good Sheep, and the bad Goats, to give men before hand an intimation of their estates, if they will try themselves, by these similitudes they may know now how it shall go with them then. Goats are known to be creatures, that though they be turned into the same pasture with sheep, yet will not be kept within any bounds, but are unruly; and besides are creatures of very ill smell: these resemble all such ungodly men, as living within the compass of the visible Church, and enjoying the means of salvation with the godly prove unruly and rebellious, and will not be kept within the compass of the rules and directions given by the word of God, nor follow the example of the godly, but in many things against their knowledge sin wilfully and presumptuously: and they also shadow out that profaneness, by which ungodly men discover themselves by their words and deeds in every place they come in, so as they leave an ill sent behind them, the very place is the worse for them. Now Sheep resemble true Christians: and so true Christians are like sheep in four things; First, in teachableness: Christs sheep hear his voice and follow him, Joh. 10.

4. The separation of the good from the bad, which shall be performed by Christ himselfe, which knowes the hearts of all men before the tryall, euen then when they are brought in by the Angels, and before hee proceed to the tryall of all mens causes,

A sudden whistle startles sheep, so as they come in, and are driven whither the Shepherd will, whereas Goats and Swine will not be driven without much toil and labour. Secondly, in sociableness: sheep will sort with ⟨p. 519⟩sheep, and not with swine, and will not easily live, but in the company of sheep: so is it with the godly, their life is uncomfortable, if either they be forced to dwell where the wicked are, or where they may not enjoy the society of the godly. Thirdly, in profitableness: a sheep is profitable in all things about him: and therein resembles the good works of all the godly, in whom every thing is profitable, their prayers, their practise, their examples, their works of mercy, their piety; yea, their very afflictions are profitable, not only to themselves, but to others also. Fourthly, in their patience: they are quiet in adversity, like a sheep, dumb before the shearer, so are godly men when they fall into the hands of unreasonable men that afflict them, persecute them, and oppress & defraud them. Now by these things must men try themselves. Thus of the preparation to the Judgment.

A sudden whistle startles sheepe, so as they come in, and are driuen whither the Shepherd will, whereas Goats and Swine will not bee driuen without much toile and labour. Secondly, in sociablenesse: sheepe will sort with ⟨p. 519⟩sheepe, and not with swine, and will not easily liue, but in the company of sheepe: so is it with the godly, their life is vncomfortable, if either they be forced to dwell where the wicked are, or where they may not enioy the society of the godly. Thirdly, in profitablenesse: a sheepe is profitable in all things about him: and therein resembles the good workes of all the godly, in whom euery thing is profitable, their praiers, their practise, their examples, their workes of mercy, their piety; yea, their very afflictions are profitable, not onely to themselues, but to others also. Fourthly, in their patience: they are quiet in aduersity, like a sheepe, dumb before the shearer, so are godly men when they fall into the hands of vnreasonable men that afflict them, persecute them, and oppresse & defraud them. Now by these things must men try themselues. Thus of the preparation to the Iudggment.