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

Unto the execution of the Sentence four things belong.

Vnto the execution of the Sentence foure things belong.

1. The delivery of Possession of eternal glory to the godly. 2. The detrusion of the wicked into Hell. 3. The creation of the new Heavens and new Earth. 4. The delivering up of the Kingdom of Christ into the hands of God the Father.

1. The deliuery of Possession of eternall glory to the godly. 2. The detrusion of the wicked into Hell. 3. The creation of the new Heauens and new Earth. 4. The deliuering vp of the Kingdome of Christ into the hands of God the Father.

For the first, after the sentence ended, the Elect shall be all taken up to heaven with Christ, there to reign with him in eternal bliss: where they shall presently be possest of four incomparable benefits: The first is the immediate vision of God, so as never man saw him in this world. If to live in the presence of great Princes on earth be such a preferment, what is it to live in Gods presence for ever? and if to see the Monarchs of the earth in their glory so much affect men, what is that eternal sight, when men that once were but dust and clay, are now admitted to behold that infinite perfection, and fountain of all goodness? In God we shall behold most perfectly all those things that can be of power to stir admiration, all those beauties and praises, that the nature of man can delight in. The second is the perfection of their own natures both in soul and body: Then shall their countenances shine like the Sun in the firmament; then shall their very bodies be like spirits, able to pass whither they will in a moment: then shall they possess health, without all infirmity, or power to feel pain, or defect, nor sorrow, ⟨p. 530⟩sickness, or weakness shall any more assail them: but greater things than those shall be bestowed upon their souls; for then shall their knowledge be made perfect: Here we know but in part, there we shall know as we are known: there we shall enjoy an everlasting day: It is dark night with us in this world, in comparison of that celestial light of knowledge: Here we are groping in the dark to find out some parts of truth, but there God who is whole truth it self, shall fill our minds with the shining beams of his light. Then shall all the faculties of the soul be made perfectly glorious, in all righteousness and true holiness, all impotencies being removed, God himself being all in all in the Elect for ever. The third is the acquaintance and most glorious society with all the Angels of Heaven, and all just men, of all ages and degrees: which fellowship shall be made perfectly comfortable, all things that may offend being removed from them, both in their natures and works: The heart of man cannot imagine any true praise of friendship, that can be there wanting to any of that society. The fourth is the actual donation of power over all things, even the kingdom of the whole world:

For the first, after the sentence ended, the Elect shall be all taken vp to heauen with Christ, there to reigne with him in eternall blisse: where they shall presently be possest of foure incomparable benefits: The first is the immediate vision of God, so as neuer man saw him in this world. If to liue in the presence of great Princes on earth be such a preferment, what is it to liue in Gods presence for euer? and if to see the Monarches of the earth in their glory so much affect men, what is that eternall sight, when men that once were but dust and clay, are now admitted to behold that infinite perfection, and fountaine of all goodnesse? In God wee shall behold most perfectly all those things that can be of power to stirre admiration, all those beauties and praises, that the nature of man can delight in. The second is the perfection of their owne natures both in soule and body: Then shall their countenances shine like the Sunne in the firmament; then shall their very bodies be like spirits, able to passe whither they will in a moment: then shall they possesse health, without all infirmitie, or power to feele paine, or defect, nor sorrow, ⟨p. 530⟩sicknesse, or weaknesse shall any more assaile them: but greater things than those shall be bestowed vpon their soules; for then shall their knowledge be made perfect: Here wee know but in part, there we shall know as we are knowne: there we shall enioy an euerlasting day: It is darke night with vs in this world, in comparison of that celestiall light of knowledge: Here we are groaping in the darke to finde out some parts of truth, but there God who is whole truth it selfe, shall fill our mindes with the shining beames of his light. Then shall all the faculties of the soule be made perfectly glorious, in all righteousnesse and true holinesse, all impotencies being remoued, God himselfe being all in all in the Elect for euer. The third is the acquaintance and most glorious societie with all the Angels of Heauen, and all iust men, of all ages and degrees: which fellowship shall be made perfectly comfortable, all things that may offend being remoued from them, both in their natures and workes: The heart of man cannot imagine any true praise of friendship, that can be there wanting to any of that society. The fourth is the actuall donation of power ouer all things, euen the kingdome of the whole world:

The second part of the Execution, contains the thrusting of all the wicked, with the Devil and his Angels into Hell: where all the damned must suffer first abjection from the face of God, and deprivation of the very sight of all that might comfort in heaven or earth. Secondly, the gnawing of conscience upon the eternal remembrance of all their sins. Thirdly, unutterable torments in fire unquenchable. Fourthly, the horrid presence of the Devil and his Angels, all which are made more grievous, by the impossibility to find either ease or end. The life they loath they must live, and the ⟨p. 531⟩death they desire they shall never find. Oh that men could be warned in time, to provide that they never come into that place. That message Dives would have sent to his brethren, is brought unto men now by the Gospel, and therefore let them awake to live righteously, that they perish not in this great damnation, where shall be the Chaos of darkness, the horror of tribulation, the fear of confusion, the grief of fearful visions, the voice of men lamenting, the biting of worms gnawing, cold intolerable, fire unquenchable, stench intolerable, darkness palpable, and an absolute despair of all that is good.

The second part of the Execution, containes the thrusting of all the wicked, with the Diuell and his Angels into Hell: where all the damned must suffer first abiection from the face of God, and depriuation of the very sight of all that might comfort in heauen or earth. Secondly, the gnawing of conscience vpon the eternall remembrance of all their sinnes. Thirdly, vnutterable torments in fire vnquenchable. Fourthly, the horrid presence of the Deuill and his Angels, all which are made more grieuous, by the impossibilitie to find either ease or end. The life they loath they must liue, and the ⟨p. 531⟩death they desire they shall neuer finde. Oh that men could be warned in time, to prouide that they neuer come into that place. That message Diues would haue sent to his brethren, is brought vnto men now by the Gospell, and therefore let them awake to liue righteously, that they perish not in this great damnation, where shall be the Chaos of darknesse, the horror of tribulation, the feare of confusion, the griefe of fearfull visions, the voice of men lamenting, the biting of wormes gnawing, cold intollerable, fire vnquenchable, stinch intollerable, darknesse palpable, and an absolute despaire of all that is good.

The third thing is the creation of new heavens and new earth, according to these Scriptures, Isaiah 65. 17. and 66. 22. Reu. 21. 1. 2 Pet. 3. 13. Now about this Creation we are to consider of two things:

The third thing is the creation of new heauens and new earth, according to these Scriptures, Esay 65. 17. and 66. 22. Reu. 21. 1. 2 Pet. 3. 13. Now about this Creation we are to consider of two things:

1. The firing of the world. 2. The liberty of the creatures.

1. The firing of the world. 2. The libertie of the creatures.

For the first of these it is manifest, that the world, that it may be made new, shall be cast into the fire, as into a furnace: The heavens and the earth are reserved unto fire, the heavens shall perish, and shall all wax old as a garment, and as a vesture God shall fold them up, and they shall be changed; the heavens being on fire shall pass away, and be dissolved with a noise, and the elements shall melt with heat, and the earth with the works thereof shall be burnt up, Psal. 102. 27, 28. 2. Pet. 3. 5, 7, 10, 11, 12. The substance of the heavens and the earth shall not be annihilated, but the qualities only shall be altered, that is, bettered: The figure of this world shall pass away, not the nature, 1 Cor. 7. 31.

For the first of these it is manifest, that the world, that it may be made new, shall be cast into the fire, as into a furnace: The heauens and the earth are reserued vnto fire, the heauens shall perish, and shall all wax old as a garment, and as a vesture God shall fold them vp, and they shall be changed; the heauens being on fire shall passe away, and be dissolued with a noise, and the elements shall melt with heat, and the earth with the workes thereof shall be burnt vp, Psal. 102. 27, 28. 2. Pet. 3. 5, 7, 10, 11, 12. The substance of the heauens and the earth shall not be annihilated, but the qualities only shall be altered, that is, bettered: The figure of this world shall passe away, not the nature, 1 Cor. 7. 31.

For the second of these, all things shall be so made new, as all creatures that were brought into bondage shall then be set at liberty, and receive restitution, as is manifest, Acts 3. 21. Rom. 8. 23. That this point may be the more clearly understood, I must consider of two things. First, how the creatures are in bondage now, and then how they shall be at liberty then. The creatures be now in bondage many ways: First, as any of them are corruptible, so in bondage to corruption. Secondly, as they are subject to mutations, and ⟨p. 532⟩confusions, as in the case of the Air and Seas. Thirdly, as they are forced to serve the turns of wicked men, and their uses. Fourthly, as they are teachers of the world, and men will not learn: the creatures are Gods great book, and it is a bondage to teach and lose their labour. Fifthly, as any of them are either the instrument, or the subject of mans punishment. Sixthly, as since the fall they have lost their vigorous instincts, as they are dulled and distempered in them.

For the second of these, all things shall be so made new, as all creatures that were brought into bondage shall then be set at libertie, and receiue restitution, as is manifest, Acts 3. 21. Rom. 8. 23. That this point may be the more clearely vnderstood, I must consider of two things. First, how the creatures are in bondage now, and then how they shall be at liberty then. The creatures be now in bondage many wayes: First, as any of them are corruptible, so in bondage to corruption. Secondly, as they are subiect to mutations, and ⟨p. 532⟩confusions, as in the case of the Aire and Seas. Thirdly, as they are forced to serue the turnes of wicked men, and their vses. Fourthly, as they are teachers of the world, and men will not learne: the creatures are Gods great booke, and it is a bondage to teach and lose their labour. Fifthly, as any of them are either the instrument, or the subiect of mans punishment. Sixthly, as since the fall they haue lost their vigorous instincts, as they are dulled and distempered in them.

Now for the second point, they shall then be freed from all that vanity, or pain, or misery, or mutability fell upon them since the fall of man; and withal they shall be restored into a glorious estate, when the Elect are glorified: and so they partake of the glorious liberty of the sons of God. But this restitution shall not be made to each particular creature that hath been, but to each sort of creatures shall be then found alive at the last day: But what shall be their glory, or how long they shall continue, cannot be determined without curiosity and rashness.

Now for the second point, they shall then be freed from all that vanitie, or paine, or misery, or mutabilitie fell vpon them since the fall of man; and withall they shall be restored into a glorious estate, when the Elect are glorified: and so they partake of the glorious libertie of the sonnes of God. But this restitution shal not be made to each particular creature that hath beene, but to each sort of creatures shall be then found aliue at the last day: But what shall be their glorie, or how long they shall continue, cannot be determined without curiositie and rashnesse.

The fourth effect or consequent of the Judgement, is the delivering of the kingdom of Christ into the hands of God the Father, 1 Cor. 15. 24. which is to be understood, not of the glorious estate of Christ, but of his temporal government over the world and the Church, as he ruled by means in this world: for this kingdom ends, when he hath fully subdued the devils and death, and wicked men, and hath fully delivered the Elect from all sin and misery. Then there shall be no need to govern men by Magistrates, or Preachers, or Sacraments, or discipline, or of any of the helps of natural or spiritual life.

The fourth effect or consequent of the Iudgement, is the deliuering of the kingdome of Christ into the hands of God the Father, 1 Cor. 15. 24. which is to be vnderstood, not of the glorious estate of Christ, but of his temporall gouernment ouer the world and the Church, as he ruled by means in this world: for this kingdome ends, when hee hath fully subdued the deuils and death, and wicked men, and hath fully deliuered the Elect from all sinne and misery. Then there shall be no need to gouerne men by Magistrates, or Preachers, or Sacraments, or discipline, or of any of the helps of naturall or spirituall life.

Thus of the explication of this Article.

The use that may be made of this Article in general follows, and so first it may extremely affright all men that lies in their sins without repentance, for there are many things in this doctrine terrible, as

The vse that may be made of this Article in generall followes, and so first it may extremely affright all men that lies in their sins without repentance, for there are many things in this doctrine terrible, as

1. That God hath set them a day, wherein he will certainly bring them to account.

2. That this day is most certain, and God will not alter his mind, Act. 17. 31. Heb. 9. 27.

2. That this day is most certaine, and God will not alter his minde, Act. 17. 31. Heb. 9. 27.

3. That this day will be a day of wrath to them, and not of mercy: The date of mercy unto impenitent sinners will then be out, Rom. 2. 5.

3. That this day will be a day of wrath to them, and not of mercy: The date of mercy vnto impenitent sinners will then be out, Rom. 2. 5.