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, Matth. 25. 32. Where by the way diuers things may be noted: as first, that wicked men to their terrour shal then haue that done by Christ, which ⟨p. 518⟩now in their malice and iolity they so much striue to doe themselues. Now they shunne the godly, and thinke the Townes the worse to liue in where they are setled, especially if they be any number of them: at that day as their grieuous punishment they shal haue the godly taken from them, neuer more to liue amongst them. Secondly, wee gather hence, that there shall neuer be a perfect separation, no not in the best Churches on earth, of the good from the bad; onely at the day of Iudgement it shall bee perfectly made: This is shewed by the Parables of the Tares and good corne, and of the Draw-net that catcheth both bad and good fish. Thirdly, note the titles giuen to both sorts of people; Christ calls the good Sheepe, and the bad Goats, to giue men before hand an intimation of their estates, if they will try themselues, by these similitudes they may know now how it shall goe with them then. Goats are knowne to be creatures, that though they be turned into the same pasture with sheepe, yet will not be kept within any bounds, but are vnruly; and besides are creatures of very ill smell: these resemble all such vngodly men, as liuing within the compasse of the visible Church, and enioying the meanes of saluation with the godly proue vnruly and rebellious, and will not bee kept within the compasse of the rules and directions giuen by the word of God, nor follow the example of the godly, but in many things against their knowledge sinne wilfully and presumptuously: and they also shadow out that prophannesse, by which vngodly men discouer themselues by their words and deeds in euery place they come in, so as they leaue an ill sent behinde them, the very place is the worse for them. Now Sheepe resemble true Christians: and so true Christians are like sheepe in foure things; First, in teachablenes: Christs sheepe heare his voice and follow him, Ioh. 10.
