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

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.

4. That all his sins shall then be discovered, even all his secret sins, and none can be forgotten, in as much as the evidence shall be given out of so many books, where all things are written, as it were, with a pen of iron, and the point of a Diamond, 1 Cor. 4. 5. Revel. 20. Jer. 17. 1.

4. That all his sins shall then be discouered, euen all his secret sins, and none can be forgotten, in as much as the euidence shall bee giuen out of so many bookes, where all things are written, as it were, with a pen of iron, and the point of a Diamond, 1 Cor. 4. 5. Reuel. 20. Ier. 17. 1.

5. That even the longer he lives, the more he heaps up wrath against that day, Rom. 2. 5.

5. That euen the longer hee liues, the more hee heapes vp wrath against that day, Rom. 2. 5.

6. That no means will then be available to deliver them. Riches will not help them, Job 36. 18, 19. nor multitude cannot shelter them, Jude 15.

6. That no meanes will then be auaileable to deliuer them. Riches will not helpe them, Iob 36. 18, 19. nor multitude cannot shelter them, Iude 15.

7. That though thou hast excelled in many gifts, and done much good in the world, yet if thou die in sin without repentance, thou shalt not escape Gods vengeance, 1 Cor. 13. 3.

7. That though thou hast excelled in many gifts, and done much good in the world, yet if thou die in sinne without repentance, thou shalt not escape Gods vengeance, 1 Cor. 13. 3.

8. That it is but a little while thither, 1 Pet. 4. 7. Jam. 5. 8. The signs of Christs coming are the most of them run out; and we see that divers of the last signs run together, as if the Lord made haste to make an end of all things: and if general judgement were yet further off, yet death is at hand, which gives a particular judgement upon thee.

8. That it is but a little while thither, 1 Pet. 4. 7. Iam. 5. 8. The signes of Christs comming are the most of them run out; and we see that diuers of the last signes run together, as if the Lord made haste to make an end of all things: and if generall iudgement were yet further off, yet death is at hand, which giues a particular iudgement vpon thee.

9. That when he doth come it will be so suddenly, as thou shalt not have time to make thy self ready, or to mend thy course, Matth. 25. 6, 10, 11, 12. 1 Thess. 5. 2, 3. Matth. 24. 39.

9. That when he doth come it will be so suddenly, as thou shalt not haue time to make thy selfe ready, or to mend thy course, Matth. 25. 6, 10, 11, 12. 1 Thess. 5. 2, 3. Matth. 24. 39.

10. That God will be Judge himself.

10. That God will be Iudge himselfe.

11. That it will be a final sentence, there can be no revocation or appeal.

11. That it will be a finall sentence, there can be no reuocation or appeale.

12. That Gods proceedings in his justice will be then all cleared, they shall have nothing to object; and his justice will the more appear both by the equity of his dealing: They have had their days of sinning, and therefore reason he should have his day of Judging: and by the consideration of his patience, that hath deferred this last judgement for such a wonderful while: and besides, God will then discover a world of offences in every wicked man, ⟨p. 534⟩that are not now known to others: and finally, God will then open the secrets of his counsel, and bring forth exquisite reasons for his decrees, and providence, and judgement, which are now like a great deep to us.

12. That Gods proceedings in his iustice will be then all cleared, they shall haue nothing to obiect; and his iustice will the more appeare both by the equity of his dealing: They haue had their dayes of sinning, and therefore reason he should haue his day of Iudging: and by the consideration of his patience, that hath deferred this last iudgement for such a wonderfull while: and besides, God will then discouer a world of offences in euery wicked man, ⟨p. 534⟩that are not now knowne to others: and finally, God will then open the secrets of his counsell, and bring forth exquisite reasons for his decrees, and prouidence, and iudgement, which are now like a great deepe to vs.

Lastly, it must needs be most terrible to them, if their hearts can apprehend now the horror of their summons by the sound of the last Trump, and their public shame before all the world, and especially their eternal separation from God and all good things, and that infinite torment they must for ever be in with the Devil and his angels.

Lastly, it must needs be most terrible to them, if their hearts can apprehend now the horror of their summons by the sound of the last Trumpe, and their publike shame before all the world, and especially their eternall separation from God and all good things, and that infinite torment they must for euer be in with the Deuill and his angels.

But yet unto them this doctrine hath another use, that is, more comfortable, and that is, that God yet gives them warning to repent, and if the Terror of this day, can now make them to repent, their souls shall be saved in that day, Act. 17. 31. else they are most woefully undone for ever.

But yet vnto them this doctrine hath another vse, that is, more comfortable, and that is, that God yet giues them warning to repent, and if the Terror of this day, can now make them to repent, their soules shall be saued in that day, Act. 17. 31. else they are most wofully vndone for euer.

And on the other side it may be a doctrine of wonderf u comfort to all the godly: and the rather if they consider,

And on the other side it may be a doctrine of wonderf u confort to all the godly: and the rather if they consider,