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

From the Reply of Christ we may observe, the near conjunction between Christ and Christians: He reckons of them as of himself, and is affected with all that befalls them, as if it did befall himself: He is not ashamed to call them brethren; yea he reckons poor Christians as a part of himself, though they be despised in the world, yet he loves them, as he loves himself, they are precious in his eyes: calling them brethren, he vouchsafeth them incredible honour, which should greatly stir us up to charity; and if at ⟨p. 527⟩any time we are dull, set Christ before our eyes, and think what a Sacrilege it is to deny relief to Christ.

From the Reply of Christ we may obserue, the neere coniunction betweene Christ and Christians: Hee reckons of them as of himselfe, and is affected with all that befalls them, as if it did befall himselfe: He is not ashamed to call them brethren; yea he reckons poore Christians as a part of himselfe, though they be despised in the world, yet he loues them, as he loues himselfe, they are pretious in his eyes: calling them brethren, hee vouchsafeth them incredible honour, which should greatly stirre vs vp to charity; and if at ⟨p. 527⟩any time we are dull, set Christ before our eyes, and thinke what a Sacrilege it is to deny releefe to Christ.

Thus of the sentence of absolution: which being ended, he will proceed to the sentence of condemnation. He is not so merciful as to forget to be just. It is in vain to plead the mercy of God and Christ, to prove the salvation of the wicked, for he is just as well as merciful, and that they shall know fully at his coming. In the sentence of condemnation observe four things: First, the reprobation of the wicked, vers. 41. Secondly, the cause of this reprobation, vers. 42, 43. Thirdly, the Apology of the wicked for themselves, vers. 44. Fourthly, the answer to their Apology, vers. 45.

Thus of the sentence of absolution: which being ended, he will proceed to the sentence of condemnation. Hee is not so mercifull as to forget to be iust. It is in vaine to plead the mercy of God and Christ, to proue the saluation of the wicked, for he is iust as well as mercifull, and that they shall know fully at his comming. In the sentence of condemnation obserue foure things: First, the reprobation of the wicked, vers. 41. Secondly, the cause of this reprobation, vers. 42, 43. Thirdly, the Apologie of the wicked for themselues, vers. 44. Fourthly, the answer to their Apologie, vers. 45.

In the Reprobation of the wicked I note divers things, as

In the Reprobation of the wicked I note diuers things, as

2. In that he saith, Depart ye from me, it shows that it is a grievous misery to be thrust out from Christ: it were an everlasting fearful punishment, if wicked men did suffer no more, but the absence of Christ for ever; to live without that Sun of Righteousness, is worse than to live without the shining of the Sun in the firmament: and herein note the justice of Christ, in that wicked men could not abide the company of Christ, and true Christians in this world, they shall now be paid in the same kind, they shall never more enjoy the presence of Christ or any one true Christian. Woe to Hypocrites at that day, though now they seem to be joined to Christ, yet let them think what it will be, when they shall be made to depart.

2. In that he saith, Depart yee from me, it shewes that it is a grieuous misery to be thrust out from Christ: it were an euerlasting fearfull punishment, if wicked men did suffer no more, but the absence of Christ for euer; to liue without that Sunne of Righteousnesse, is worse than to liue without the shining of the Sunne in the firmament: and herein note the iustice of Christ, in that wicked men could not abide the company of Christ, and true Christians in this world, they shall now be paid in the same kinde, they shall neuer more enioy the presence of Christ or any one true Christian. Woe to Hypocrites at that day, though now they seeme to be ioyned to Christ, yet let them thinke what it will be, when they shall be made to depart.

3. In that he calls them Cursed, it shows that every wicked man is a cursed creature; and withal, that to be under Gods curse is the quintessence of misery. And therefore godly men have little cause to envy the prosperity of any wicked man, nor wicked man to be so drunken with the ⟨p. 528⟩estimation of the fading glory of earthly possessions.

3. In that he calls them Cursed, it shewes that euery wicked man is a cursed creature; and withall, that to be vnder Gods curse is the quintessence of misery. And therefore godly men haue little cause to enuy the prosperitie of any wicked man, nor wicked man to be so drunken with the ⟨p. 528⟩estimation of the fading glory of earthly possessions.

4. In that he saith, Into everlasting fire, it notes the unspeakable horror of the pain of wicked men in Hell. If a man knew he must lie in a burning fire but one day, oh how would he be dismayed? Oh what senselessness hath bewitched ungodly men, that are not frighted with everlasting burnings? They are wonderfully blinded, that strive to believe, that there is only Poena Damni, not Poena Sensus, in Hell: That there is no pain in Hell, but only loss of good things, as the presence of God and Christ, &c.

4. In that he saith, Into euerlasting fire, it notes the vnspeakable horror of the paine of wicked men in Hell. If a man knew he must lie in a burning fire but one day, oh how would he be dismayed? Oh what senselesnesse hath bewitched vngodly men, that are not frighted with euerlasting burnings? They are wonderfully blinded, that striue to beleeue, that there is only Poena Damni, not Poena Sensus, in Hell: That there is no paine in Hell, but only losse of good things, as the presence of God and Christ, &c.

5. In that he saith, Prepared for the Devil and his Angels, we observe,

5. In that he saith, Prepared for the Deuill and his Angels, we obserue,

1. That God never purposed to show mercy to the Devils.

1. That God neuer purposed to shew mercy to the Deuills.

2. That there is one Devil is chief, and hath power over the rest.

2. That there is one Deuill is chiefe, and hath power ouer the rest.

3. That from the beginning God intended to show mercy unto mankind, though not unto devils.

3. That from the beginning God intended to shew mercie vnto mankind, though not vnto deuils.

4. That the eternal companions of wicked men shall be devils: such as love wicked company in this life, may here see what companions they shall have in Hell.

4. That the eternall companions of wicked men shall be deuils: such as loue wicked company in this life, may here see what companions they shall haue in Hell.

From the description of the cause of the Reprobation, we may note,

1. That it is not enough to refrain from evil, but we must do good. Not bearing of fruit will be a cause of cutting down the Tree.

1. That it is not enough to refraine from euill, but we must doe good. Not bearing of fruit will be a cause of cutting downe the Tree.

2. All Religion is pretended in vain, by such as are able, and do not show mercy to the poor. It is a sin that Christ shall find only in the wicked.

2. All Religion is pretended in vaine, by such as are able, and doe not shew mercy to the poore. It is a sinne that Christ shall finde only in the wicked.

From the Apology of the wicked, we learn

From the Apologie of the wicked, we learne