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

The second is, by what Law men shall be judged at that day? And to that I answer out of Scripture, that all such to whom the Gospel hath come, they shall be judged by the ⟨p. 521⟩Gospel, Rom. 2. 16. which is thus to be understood, that godly men shall be tried by the Gospel, so as their faith, and repentance, and new obedience, being avouched, they shall receive the benefit of trial, not by the rigour of the Law, but by the promises of the Gospel: and wicked men shall be tried by the Gospel, only as their unbelief shall be an aggravation against them, that having so many ways broken the Law, would not fly to Christ, nor seek atonement in him: so as properly the godly are tried by the Gospel. Now all the wicked men in the world are chiefly tried by the Law, and so either by the Law of Nature, even by the principles infused into every mans mind by Nature, as the Pagans and all that know not the Scripture: or else by the Law of Scripture, that is, by the Law or Covenant of works recorded in Scripture: see Rom. 2. 12.

The second is, by what Law men shall be iudged at that day? And to that I answer out of Scripture, that all such to whom the Gospell hath come, they shall be iudged by the ⟨p. 521⟩Gospell, Rom. 2. 16. which is thus to be vnderstood, that godly men shall be tried by the Gospell, so as their faith, and repentance, and new obedience, being auouched, they shall receiue the benefit of triall, not by the rigor of the Law, but by the promises of the Gospell: and wicked men shall be tried by the Gospell, only as their vnbeleefe shall be an aggrauation against them, that hauing so many waies broken the Law, would not flie to Christ, nor seeke atonement in him: so as properly the godly are tried by the Gospell. Now all the wicked men in the world are chiefly tryed by the Law, and so either by the Law of Nature, euen by the principles infused into euery mans minde by Nature, as the Pagans and all that know not the Scripture: or else by the Law of Scripture, that is, by the Law or Couenant of works recorded in Scripture: see Rom. 2. 12.

The third thing is, by what Evidence mens causes shall be tried, and how the sins of the wicked shall be proved against them? And for answer hereunto, we read Reu. 20. 12. that when the dead both great and small shall stand before the Lord, there shall be certain Books opened, out of which shall be taken manifest evidence in all the Trials. Now what books these shall be, other Scriptures tell us: and so we read of five books that are likely then to be opened.

The third thing is, by what Euidence mens causes shall be tryed, and how the sinnes of the wicked shall be proued against them? And for answer hereunto, we reade Reu. 20. 12. that when the dead both great and small shall stand before the Lord, there shall be certaine Books opened, out of which shall be taken manifest euidence in all the Trials. Now what books these shall be, other Scriptures tell vs: and so we reade of fiue books that are likely then to be opened.

The first is the book of Nature, and so the creatures abused by men shall be for evidence against men: as unto the Idolatrous Jews, the very horns of their Altars shall testify against them, Jer. 17. 1. their sin is graven, and as it were written upon the creatures they have abused.

The first is the booke of Nature, and so the creatures abused by men shall be for euidence against men: as vnto the Idolatrous Iewes, the very hornes of their Altars shall testifie against them, Ier. 17. 1. their sinne is grauen, and as it were written vpon the creatures they haue abused.

The third book is the book of Conscience: Every mans conscience shall then be wonderfully dilated, and made able to remember all their sins afresh, and so shall be as a thousand witnesses. Though the consciences of most men are now asleep, yet Christ will make them awake at that ⟨p. 522⟩day, and give in full and perfect evidence. That work of accusing which the conscience doth in some men unperfectly in this life, it shall do perfectly at that day: and so for excusing in the godly.

The third booke is the booke of Conscience: Euery mans conscience shall then be wonderfully dilated, and made able to remember all their sinnes afresh, and so shall be as a thousand witnesses. Though the consciences of most men are now asleepe, yet Christ will make them awake at that ⟨p. 522⟩day, and giue in full and perfect euidence. That worke of accusing which the conscience doth in some men vnperfectly in this life, it shall doe perfectly at that day: and so for excusing in the godly.

The fourth book is the book of Gods remembrance mentioned in the case of the godly, Mal. 3. 16. and intimated in the case of the wicked, Jer. 17. 1. in which book are written all the things that men have done in their bodies, whether good or evil.

The fourth booke is the booke of Gods remembrance mentioned in the case of the godly, Mal. 3. 16. and intimated in the case of the wicked, Ier. 17. 1. in which booke are written all the things that men haue done in their bodies, whether good or euill.

Now besides these books, we read in that place of the Revelations, of a book of Life, that is, of such a book as contains the names of all that God hath appointed unto salvation by Jesus Christ, and by that book the Judge will see upon whom to pass the sentence of Absolution, and so by consequent, on whom to pass the sentence of condemnation, Revel. 20. 12. with Phil. 4. 3.

Now besides these books, we reade in that place of the Reuelations, of a booke of Life, that is, of such a booke as containes the names of all that God hath appointed vnto saluation by Iesus Christ, and by that booke the Iudge will see vpon whom to passe the sentence of Absolution, and so by consequent, on whom to passe the sentence of condemnation, Reuel. 20. 12. with Phil. 4. 3.

Now besides these books, we read of a book of providence, that contains a Record of all the persons to whom God gave natural life, and form, of which David makes mention, Psal. 136. 16. and this book may be of use to show who must be called to Judgement.

Now besides these books, we reade of a booke of prouidence, that containes a Record of all the persons to whom God gaue naturall life, and forme, of which Dauid makes mention, Psal. 136. 16. and this booke may be of vse to shew who must be called to Iudgement.

And yet further we may gather out of other Scriptures, that if there be need God can produce other Evidence: As first the Heavens and the Earth will declare Gods righteousness, at least by way of aggravation, either in respect of the benefits they have brought forth unto man to allure him to goodness, and the judgments have been upon them to terrify him, Psal. 50. 6. The very vanity which the creatures have been subject to, will testify against man in that day: The heaven, saith Zophar, shall reveal his iniquity, and the earth shall rise up against him, Job 20. 27. And hence it was that God called the heaven and the earth to witness between him and the people at sundry times in the Old Testament. Secondly, the examples of the faith, and piety, patience, and mercy in godly men that have lived amongst the wicked, will be evidence against them: as the example of Noah will condemn the old world, Heb. 11. 7. so the example of the Queen of the South, and the Ninevites, will ⟨p. 523⟩rise up in Judgement against the Jews, Matth. 12. 41, 42. Lastly, the Spirit of God, which hath rebuked the world of sin, will be able to convince all the ungodly openly of all their wickedness at that day.

And yet further we may gather out of other Scriptures, that if there be need God can produce other Euidence: As first the Heauens and the Earth will declare Gods righteousnesse, at least by way of aggrauation, either in respect of the benefits they haue brought forth vnto man to allure him to goodnesse, and the iudgments haue beene vpon them to terrifie him, Psal. 50. 6. The very vanitie which the creatures haue beene subiect to, will testifie against man in that day: The heauen, saith Zophar, shall reueale his iniquitie, and the earth shall rise vp against him, Iob 20. 27. And hence it was that God called the heauen and the earth to witnesse betweene him and the people at sundry times in the Old Testament. Secondly, the examples of the faith, and piety, patience, and mercy in godly men that haue liued amongst the wicked, will be euidence against them: as the example of Noah will condemne the old world,

Thus of the manner of the Trial. The manner of the Sentence follows.

Thus of the manner of the Triall. The manner of the Sentence followes.

The manner of the Sentence we cannot in this world know, save that our Saviour himself hath given a little taste of it, by making a brief description of it in Matth. 25. the latter part of the chapter: and this glimpse of that glory of his proceedings there he gives, that both the godly might be established in consolation, and the wicked left without excuse having so fair warning.

The manner of the Sentence we cannot in this world know, saue that our Sauiour himselfe hath giuen a little taste of it, by making a briefe description of it in Matth. 25. the latter part of the chapter: and this glimpse of that glory of his proceedings there he giues, that both the godly might be established in consolation, and the wicked left without excuse hauing so faire warning.

The sentence stands of two parts, the one concerns the godly, and that is a sentence of absolution, as Divines call it, or rather a sentence of glorification: and the other concerns the wicked, and that is a sentence of condemnation. Our Saviour will begin with the sentence of absolution, to show thereby his readiness to mercy, and long-suffering, and that he is not carried with unjust fury against those on his left hand, and that thereby also he may make the elect capable of the dignity of being Assessors with him in the Judgement upon the wicked.

The sentence stands of two parts, the one concernes the godly, and that is a sentence of absolution, as Diuines call it, or rather a sentence of glorification: and the other concernes the wicked, and that is a sentence of condemnation. Our Sauiour will begin with the sentence of absolution, to shew thereby his readinesse to mercy, and long-suffering, and that he is not caried with vniust furie against those on his left hand, and that thereby also he may make the elect capable of the dignitie of being Assessours with him in the Iudgement vpon the wicked.

The sentence that concerns the godly may be considered of according to the four parts of it. The first is the calling of the elect to glory, vers. 34. The second is the reason given for this calling, vers. 35, 36. The third is the answer Christ shall receive from the elect, v. 37, 38, 39. The fourth is the replication of our Saviour to their answer, v. 40.

The sentence that concernes the godly may be considered of according to the foure parts of it. The first is the calling of the elect to glory, vers. 34. The second is the reason giuen for this calling, vers. 35, 36. The third is the answer Christ shall receiue from the elect, v. 37, 38, 39. The fourth is the replication of our Sauiour to their answer, v. 40.

For the first, in general we may note, That if Christ call us to grace and good works in this life, he will call us to glory in another world: All that are effectually called, and set about Gods work in this world, shall have a most joyful call to the possession of an eternal kingdom at the last day. Which should much encourage the godly, against all the hardship of godliness in this life.

For the first, in generall we may note, That if Christ call vs to grace and good works in this life, he will call vs to glory in another world: All that are effectually called, and set about Gods worke in this world, shall haue a most ioyfull call to the possession of an eternall kingdome at the last day. Which should much incourage the godly, against all the hardship of godlinesse in this life.

There are many things may be briefly noted from the particular words by which this glorious calling is expressed.

There are many things may be briefly noted from the particular words by which this glorious calling is exprest.

1. In that the Judge is suddenly by change of stile called a King, it might have some use for the present respect of the Disciples, that dreamed of an earthly kingdom in this world: and besides, a general respect unto the godly of all ages to inform them, that though Christ entertain his servants in this world but in mean conditions many times, and that thereby his glory seems much abased amongst men, yet at that day, he will speak and do for them like a King, yea a King alone, when all other Kings shall lay their Crowns at his feet.

1. In that the Iudge is suddenly by change of stile called a King, it might haue some vse for the present respect of the Disciples, that dreamed of an earthly kingdom in this world: and besides, a generall respect vnto the godly of all ages to informe them, that though Christ entertaine his seruants in this world but in meane conditions many times, and that thereby his glory seems much abased amongst men, yet at that day, he will speake and doe for them like a King, yea a King alone, when all other Kings shall lay their Crownes at his feet.