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

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.

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,

1. That they have judged themselves already, and therefore have Gods promise they shall not be condemned at that day, 1 Cor. 11. 31, 32.

1. That they haue iudged themselues already, and therefore haue Gods promise they shall not be condemned at that day, 1 Cor. 11. 31, 32.

2. That God hath judged them already: they have endured their pain already in this world: God will account the afflictions of this life sufficient unto them, 1 Pet. 4 17.

2. That God hath iudged them already: they haue indured their paine already in this world: God will account the afflictions of this life sufficient vnto them, 1 Pet. 4 17.

3. That they are already perfectly justified, and absolved from all their sins, Rom. 3. 24, 25. and 8. 33.

3. That they are alreadie perfectly iustified, and absolued from all their sins, Rom. 3. 24, 25. and 8. 33.

4. That they have Christ to be their Judge: for there are many comforts in that point. They need not be afraid of his sentence, because he hath been their advocate all this while, and hath pleaded for them at the bar of Justice, 1 Joh. 2. 1, 2. and he is their brother, their husband, their head, and all things else in relation, which imports dearness. Read but the Book of Canticles, and consider whether he that gives such wonderful, loving, and familiar terms of affection to his Church, can ever be brought to pronounce a terrible sentence upon her? And besides, hath he not in Scripture left many promises that assure us of our happiness at that day? And further, who can read the story of the Passion of Christ, and think that he will ⟨p. 535⟩ever speak terrible things to them, for whom he suffered so grievous things on earth. Was he not himself judged for them on earth, that they might be absolved from heaven? Lastly, he hath left us the seal of the Spirit of promise, even his own Spirit in our hearts, as an earnest of our most glorious and final Redemption at that day; and besides that privy seal of his Spirit, how often hath he set to his broad seal in the Sacraments from time to time? And therefore they may be all assured, that there Christ will be made marvellous in that day in all them that believe, to their everlasting honour, and praise, and glory.

4. That they haue Christ to be their Iudge: for there are many comforts in that point. They need not be afraid of his sentence, because hee hath beene their aduocate all this while, and hath pleaded for them at the barre of Iustice, 1 Ioh. 2. 1, 2. and he is their brother, their husband, their head, and all things else in relation, which imports dearenesse. Reade but the Booke of Canticles, and consider whether he that giues such wonderfull, louing, and familiar termes of affection to his Church, can euer be brought to pronounce a terrible sentence vpon her? And besides, hath he not in Scripture left many promises that assure vs of our happinesse at that day? And further, who can reade the story of the Passion of Christ, and thinke that he will ⟨p. 535⟩euer speake terrible things to them, for whom he suffered so grieuous things on earth. Was he not himselfe iudged for them on earth, that they might be absolued from heauen? Lastly, he hath left vs the seale of the Spirit of promise, euen his owne Spirit in our hearts, as an earnest of our most glorious and finall Redemption at that day; and besides that priuie seale of his Spirit, how often hath hee set to his broad seale in the Sacraments from time to time? And therefore they may be all assured, that there Christ will be made maruellous in that day in all them that beleeue, to their euerlasting honour, and praise, and glory.

Thirdly, the doctrine of the last Judgement, should serve also for instruction, and so

Thirdly, the doctrine of the last Iudgement, should serue also for instruction, and so

1. It should strike a constant fear of God into our hearts, and of his dreadful justice, and majesty, Revel. 14. 7.

1. It should strike a constant feare of God into our hearts, and of his dreadfull iustice, and maiestie, Reuel. 14. 7.

2. It should make us very patient under any wrongs, or oppressions of the wicked men of the world, especially when men suffer trouble for Christs sake and the Gospels; for we shall be sure to see a perfect recompense upon our adversaries at that day, if they repent not, 2 Thess. 1. 5, 6, 7. Jam. 5. 6, 7. Phil. 4. 5.

2. It should make vs very patient vnder any wrongs, or oppressions of the wicked men of the world, especially when men suffer trouble for Christs sake and the Gospels; for we shall be sure to see a perfect recompence vpon our aduersaries at that day, if they repent not, 2 Thess. 1. 5, 6, 7. Iam. 5. 6, 7. Phil. 4. 5.

3. It should teach every Christian to be temperate, and reserved in the case of censure, and judging of others, 1 Cor. 4. 5. and 5. 12. Rom. 14. 10, 11, 12.

3. It should teach euery Christian to be temperate, and reserued in the case of censure, and iudging of others, 1 Cor. 4. 5. and 5. 12. Rom. 14. 10, 11, 12.

But especially it should marvellously fire the hearts of Gods children, to all possible care and conscience to express all manner of holiness, and good works, in all parts of their conversation, and to avoid all things that may offend, Tit. 2. 12, 13. 2 Pet. 3. 11, 14. 1 Cor. 15. 5, 8.

But especially it should maruellously fire the hearts of Gods children, to all possible care and conscience to expresse all manner of holinesse, and good works, in all parts of their conuersation, and to auoid all things that may offend, Tit. 2. 12, 13. 2 Pet. 3. 11, 14. 1 Cor. 15. 5, 8.

The eighth Article.