CAP. I. That the meditation of death is profitable a­gainst pride.

NEbuchadnezzars I­mage had a head of gold, brest and arms of silver, belly & thighes of brasse, but feet of clay.

Whatsoever thy wealth, wisdome, birth, [Page 188]beauty, state or strength be, thy foundation is in the dust, Job. 4.19.

There is a great diffe­rence betwixt a Cedar and a shrub; a Vine and a bramble, so long as both grow: but cut them down, and burn them, & there will be no diffe­rence in their ashes.

Chess-men are distin­guished upon the boord whilest the game is play­ing, but being done, they are tumbled into a bag without order.

In this life some are [Page 189]set upon the throne: o­thers are grinding at the mill.

Some are cloathed in purple, and fare delici­ously every day: others lie at the gates and have not so much as the crums of their Tables.

But in the grave rich and poor meet together, and the ulcers of Laza­rus will make as good dust as the paint of Jeza­bel.

Saul being anointed King over Israel, was ap­pointed to go to Rachels [Page 190]sepulchre: that the sight of a Sepulchre might al­lay the haughtinesse of his new honour, 1 Sam. 10.2.

Kings must pile up gaeir Crownes at the thtes of the grave, and lay down their Scepters at the feet of death.

The daughters of Jeru­salem, which are haugh­ty, walking with stretch­ed forth necks, and wan­ton eys, mincing as they goe, and making a tink­ling with their feet, must drop into the grave, [Page 191]where in stead of sweet smels there shal be stink: and in stead of well set hair, baldness, Isa. 3.16, 24.

They that glory in their Ancestours, in the nobleness of their birth, and bloud, must make their bed in the dark, and acknowledge corruption for their father, and the Worm for their mother and sister, Job 17.14.

I have said, Ye are gods, and all of you are children of the most high: but ye shall die [Page 192]like men, Psal. 82.6, 7.

Why then art thou proud, O Dust and A­shes!

CAP. II. It is profitable against co­vetousness.

THe rich man in the Gospel when he had built his barns, and inned his harvest, was called away and carries nothing [Page 193]with him of all the store he had provided, Luke 12.

The Spider spins out her own bowels, to make a Cobweb, and present­ly a maid comes with a broome and sweeps it down.

Horses at night are un­laden of their burthens, and turned into a dirty Stable with a galled back: So are rich men into the grave, and for the most part with a gal­led conscience.

A Mill wears it selfe with grinding, & though [Page 194]it turn about continual­ly, yet it removes not out of its place.

It is but in vain for men to rise up early, and to sit up late, and to eat the bread of carefulness. For naked came I out of my mothers womb, and na­ked shall I return thither, Job 1.21.

I hated all the labour which I had taken under the Sun, because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me; And who knoweth whe­ther hee shall be a wise [Page 195]man or a fool? Yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed my self wise under the Sun. This is also vanity, Ec. 2.18, 19

Surely every man wal­keth in a vain shew, sure­ly they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up rich­es, and knoweth not who shall gather thē, Ps. 39.6.

We brought nothing with us into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out of it, 1 Tim. 6.7.

Why then art thou coveteous O Dust and Ashes!

CAP. III. It is profitable against Lust.

THe Prodigall seeing many spectacles of mortality by reason of the great famine, leaves his concubines, and rio­tous living, and returns again to his Father, Luke 15.

One going to the stews meets by the way a dead corps carried to the grave: the sight whereof made such an impression in him, that he goes back again; and ever after li­ved chast and continent.

Let not sinne raign in your mortall bodies, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof, Rom. 6.12.

I beseech you as stran­gers and pilgrims abstain from fleshly lusts which warre against the soul, 1 Pet. 2.11.

The argument used by [Page 198]these Apostles to beat down in us the lust of sin, and the sin of lust, is the mortality of our bodies.

Why then art thou lust­full, ô Dust and Ashes!

Thus we see that the meditation of death is a soverein antidote against all the evill that is in the world. For all that is in the world, is either the lust of the flesh, or the lust of the eyes, or the pride of life, 1 Joh. 2.19

CAP. I. Death is certain.

ABraham the Father of the faithfull, and the friend of God, died.

Iacob wrestled with an Angel, and prevailed, yet death was too hard for him.

David was a man af­ter Gods own heart, one that triumphed over ten thousand Philistims, yet death triumphed over him.

Solomon knew the ver­tues [Page 201]of all plants from the Cedar in Libanus to the hyssope upon the wall, yet no plant had this vertue to make him immortall.

The fathers have eaten Manna, and are dead.

There is but one way into the world, but there are a thousand out of it.

Man when he comes into the world, is like an hour-glasse new turned up, which never ceases running till it be all out.

Like Peter and Iohn, we run who shall first [Page 202]come at the Sepulchre, John 20.4.

And they that are there already, rot and crumble away to make roome for us that must come after them.

Dust thou art, and to dust shalt thou return, Gen. 3.19.

What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? Psal. 89.48.

The dust shall return to the earth as it was: & the spirit shall return un­to God that gave it, Ec­cles. 12.7.

It is appointed for all men once to die. Heb. 9.27.

We must needs die, and are as water spilt upon the ground, which can­not be gathered up a­gain, 2 Sam. 14.14.

CAP. II. The time uncertain.

AN infant in the wombe knows not the time when hee shall come into the world; and being come, knows not the time when hee shall go out of it.

The rich man promi­sed himself many years, but fool that he was, that night his soul was fetcht from him, Lu. 12.

Behold now I am old and know not the day of my death, Gen. 27.2.

One dieth in his full strength, when his brests are full of milk, and his bones are moistned with marrow, another dieth in the bitternesse of his soul, Job 21.23, 24.

Man also knoweth not his time; as the fishes that are taken in an evill net, [Page 205]and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men sna­red in an evil time; when it falleth suddenly upon them, Eccles. 9.12.

God would have us ignorant of the last day, that we might be ready every day.

Take yee heed watch and pray, for ye know notwhen the time is, Mark 13.33.

To deferre repentance then till to morrow, is very dangerous. God hath promised thee par­don [Page 206]if thou dost repent to day: but if thou dost not repent, he hath not promised that thou shalt live till to morrow.

Boast not thy selfe of to morrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth, Prov. 27.1.

If not an end of thy sins, it may be an end of thy life.

If it bring not forth conversion, it may bring forth confusion.

Go to now, ye that say, To day, or to morrow [Page 207]we will do thus or thus: whereas ye know not what shall be on the mor­row: for what is your life? It is even a vapour which appeareth for a little time, and then vani­sheth away, I am. 4.13, 14

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might: for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wis­dome in the grave, whi­ther thou goest, Eccles. 9.10.

We are but tenants at will, and we know not [Page 208]how soon our great Land-lord may dis­charge us.

Doe therefore as the wise Steward, before thou beest turned out of this house, make sure of another, Luke 16.4.

CAP. III. The place uncertain.

DEath surprized Abel when he was walk­ing in the field, Gen. 4.8.

Eli when he was sit­ting at his doore, 1 Sam. 4.18.

Jobs children at a feast, Job 1.19.

Eglon in his summer parlour, Judg. 3.20.

Zacharias betwixt the Temple and the Altar, Mat. 23.35.

Senacherib in the house of Nisroch his god, Isa. 37.38.

Ishbosheth whilest hee slept in his bedchamber, 2 Sam. 4.7.

The Philistims whilest they were sporting in the Theatre, Judg. 16.30.

Herod whilest he fate upon his throne, Act. 12.23.

Expect that therefore [Page 210]in every place, which in every place expects thee.

And let not the place of thy death trouble thee; for the earth is the Lords, and the fulnesse thereof.

CAP. IV. The manner uncertain.

THere is a naturall death, when a man dies as a lamp goes out, because there is no more oile to feed it: And there is a violent death, when the soul is thrust out of doors, and the lamp of [Page 211]life not burnt, but blown out.

There is a timely death, when a man comes to his grave in his full age, as a shock of corn cometh in, in his season, Job 5.26

And there is an un­timely death, when a man is cropt as an ear of corn before it be white unto the harvest.

There is a lingring death, when the soule is besieged with sicknesse, and as it were starved and tired out of her ha­bitation.

And there is a sudden death, which strikes without giving warning.

There is a quiet death, a departing in peace, when the soul doth as it were steal out of the bo­dy unperceived.

And there is a death, accompanied with ra­ving madnesse, and di­stemperature. Now who knows which of these deaths are appointed for him?

Josiah dies by the hurt of an arrow, 2 Chr. 35.23.

A Prophet of God by [Page 213]the teeth of a Lion, 1 Kings 13.24.

Abimelech by the fall of a stone, Judges 9.53.

Jezabel is eaten up of dogs, 2 Kings 9.36.

Two Captains with their fifties are consu­med by fire from Hea­ven, 2 Kings 1.14.

There are ten thou­sand diseases in the world, and no man in his health knows which shall make an end of him. For unto God the Lord belong the issues of death, Psal. 68.20.

CAP. I. Death is a sleep.

SLeep is nothing else but a short death; and death, what is it but a long sleep?

Hence antiquity made these two brethen.

Lazarus our friend sleepeth, John 11.11.

And when Stephen had said thus, he fell asleep, Acts 7.60.

Brethren, I would not have you ignorant concerning them that are asleep, 1 Thes. 4.13.

The places appointed for buriall were called Coemeteries, that is, sleep­ing places.

Now the sleep of a labouring man is sweet, Eccles. 5.12.

Lord, if he sleep he shall do wel, Joh. 11.12.

Hence also is it that our graves are called onr beds.

They shall rest in their beds, every one walking [Page 217]in his uprightnesse, Isa. 57.2.

Jobs bed was full of tossings to and fro, Job 7.4.

Davids bed was wate­red with tears. Ps. 6.6.

Nebuchadnezzars bed affrighted him with troublesome thoughts, fearfull dreames, and strange visions, Dan. 4.5.

But this bed in the Hebrew tongue is called Dumah, because it is a place of rest, and si­lence.

I will lay me down in [Page 218]peace and take my rest, Psal. 4.8.

CAP. II. Death hath no sting.

DOgges that have no teeth may bark at us, but they cannot bite us.

Serpents that have no stings, may hisse at us, but cannot hurt us.

Bees, they say, when they have lost their stings, become droans ever after.

Death lost her sting in the side of our Saviour, and though it still leap upon us, we may shake it off as Paul did the viper, without hurt.

Behold, I give you power to tread on Ser­pents, and Scorpions, & over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you, Luke 10.19.

Death is swallowed up in victory: O death where is thy sting?

Thanks be unto God who hath given us victo­ry [Page 220]through Jesus Christ our Lord, 1 Cor. 15.55, 56.

CAP. III. Death is good for us.

WEE may say of death as David did of Ahimaaz, He is a good man, and bring­eth good tidings, 2 Sam. 18.27.

First, the death of the body frees us from the body of death, the Law of the members, the prick in the flesh, the re­licks of corruption.

The good which I would do, I cannot do; and the evill which I would not doe, that doe I, Rom. 7.19.

I see a law in my mem­bers warring against the law in my minde, Rom. 7.23.

This makes every child of God cry out, O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me?

Why, Death doth it, for he that is dead is freed from sin, Rom. 6.7.

Secondly, it frees us from the miseries and [Page 222]incumbrances of this life.

So many are the mise­ries and calamities of this life, that were it not for the hope of heaven, it would not be much bet­ter then hell.

Crosses come as thick upon us, as Jobs messen­gers.

The life of man is a winters day, very short, and very cloudy.

Few and evill have the days of my life been, Gen. 47.9.

Man that is born of a [Page 223]woman is of few days & full of trouble; few are our days, but many our troubles, Job 14.1.

The day of death is the year of Jubilee, and frees us of all these evils.

There the wicked cease from troubling: & there the weary be at rest.

There the Prisoners rest together, and heare not the voice of the op­pressour.

The small and great are there: and the servant is free from his master, Job 3.17, 18, 19.

Hence the Heathen said, it was the best thing not to be born at all, and the next to that was to die quickly.

It was the custome of many nations to weep at the birth of their friends, and to rejoyce at their burials; and not unwise­ly, says Ambros. in orat. de fide resurr.

Lastly, death (like the Angell) plucks us out of Sodom, and conducts us to Zoar, a city of refuge and safety.

It translates us out of [Page 225]a prison, to a Palace; from a vale of misery, to a kingdome of glory; from Leeks and Onions, to Rivers of Milk and Honey.

From the Tents of Ke­dar, and Tabernacles of the wicked, to mount Si­on, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jeru­salem, to an innumerable company of Angels, to the generall Assembly, and Church of the first born which are inrolled in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spi­rits [Page 226]of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the Mediator of the new Te­stament, Heb. 12.22, 23.

Death is like the com­mon gate of a city, tho­row which the Malefa­ctor passes to execution, but the honest Citizen to his recreation.

We know that if the earthly house of this ta­bernacle be dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternall in the hea­vens, 2 Cor. 5.1.

Where God shall wipe [Page 227]away all tears from our eyes: and there shall be no more death, nor sor­row, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, Rev. 21.4.

These things conside­red, we may with Solo­mon praise the dead, that are already dead, more then the living that are yet alive, Eccles. 4.2.

And say with S. Paul, To me to live is Christ, and to die is gain, Phil. 1.21.

CAP. IV. There shall bee a Resur­rection.

IT troubles us not to see the Sun set, because we know it will rise again the next morning. God restored to Iob every thing double but his children: they were not amissi, but praemissi: not lost, but laid up, and then shall be a day of restitu­tion.

Though after my skin, worms destroy this bo­dy, yet in my flesh shall [Page 229]I see God: whom I shall see for my self and mine eyes shall behold, and not another, though my reins be consumed in me, Job 19.26, 27.

Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they a­rise: awake and sing yee that dwell in the dust; for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the Earth shall cast out her dead, Isa. 26.19.

So then, death is but a Parenthesis, and the soul and body, though dis­joyned [Page 230]by it, will meet again together.

Nay the body shall not onely arise, but it fares with the body as with old houses, which being pull'd down, new ones are erected in their rooms better and more stately then the former.

It is sown in corrupti­on, it is raised in incor­ruption.

It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory.

It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power.

It is sown a naturall [Page 231]body, it is raised a spiri­tuall body, 1 Cor. 15.42, 43.

Thus death like a rare Alchy mist, dissolves the base metal of our bodies, and converts it to a pu­rer substance.

The body when it rots in the grave, is as linnen worn to rags, and cast upon the dunghill: but at the resurrection it is like those Rags gathe­red up, and made into paper, which many times becomes gilt, and capa­ble of noble and divine impressions.

The fire burnt the bands of the three chil­dren, but sindged not so much as a haire of their heads, Dan. 3.27.

Death looses us from the bands of our sins, but shall not cozen us of a nail of the hand, or an hair of the head, for all our hairs are numbred.

CAP. V. The goodness of God.

SAint Ambrose being asked by his friends whether he was not a­fraid to die, answered he [Page 233]was not, because he had a good Lord. What time I am affraid, I will trust in thee, Psal. 56.3.

Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evill, for thou art with me, Psal. 23.4.

Into thy hands I com­mit my spirit, for thou hast redeemed it, ô Lord God of truth, Psal. 31.5.

He that hath created our souls after his own Image, and redeemed them with his owne bloud, will not refuse [Page 234]them when they are commended and given up unto him.

When Stephen was gi­ving up the ghost, he saw the heavens opened, and the Sonne of man standing at the right hand of God, Acts 7.56.

Christ who sits at the right hand of God, was then said to stand, to shew how ready he is to receive the souls of his servants.

These considerations being applyed, and [Page 235]wrought well upon our hearts, will make us cry out with David, Oh when shall I come and appear before him! Psal. 42.2.

O that I had wings like a dove, that I might flie hence and be at rest, Psal. 55.6.

Woe is me that I so­journ in Mesech, that I dwell in the Tents of Kedar, Psal. 120.5.

With old Simeon, Lord now lettest thou thy ser­vant depart in peace ac­cording to thy word, Lu. 2.29.

With Paul, I desire to be dissolved, and to be with Christ, Phil. 1.23.

With Saint Iohn, Come Lord Jesus, come quick­ly, Rev. 22.20.

CAP. I. Live well.

TO live well is to fear God, and to keep his Commandements, Eccles. 12.13.

To love God and our neighbour, Mat. 22.37.

To deny all ungodli­nesse, and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righ­teously, & godly in this present world, Tit. 2.12.

To doe justly, to love mercy, and to walk hum­bly with our God, Mi­cah 6.8.

To repent of our sins, to beleeve in Christ, to keep his Command­ments. Who so doth these things shall never fall, Psal. 15.5.

A fair day may have a foul evening: but a good life cannot have a bad death.

Such as the premisses are, such will be the con­clusion.

It is said of Moses, that he died according to the word of the Lord, or at the mouth of the Lord, for the Hebrew will bear [Page 241]this reading: and the Chaldee paraphrases it, He died at a kisse of the Lords mouth: God kis­ses the righteous in their deaths, and as it were sucks in those souls which he breathed into them, Deut. 34.5.

Old Hilarion when he lay a dying, bespake his soul in this manner. Get thee out of me, O my soul, get thee out of me: why fearest thou, that hast served God almost this seventy years? Jerom in vita Hilarionis.

Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace, Psal. 37.37.

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints, Ps. 116.15.

Blessed are they that die in the Lord, for they rest from their labours, and their works follow them, Rev. 14.13.

CAP. II. Particular directions.

IN the time of thy sick­ness, with Ezekiah call thy self to an account [Page 243]for all thy sins, mourn for them, in the bitter­nesse of thy soul confesse them to God, and ask forgivenesse.

2. Send for thy Mini­ster. To whom, if need be, make a speciall con­fession, and take along with thee the benefit of his absolution; Whose soever sins ye remit they are remitted unto them: and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained, John 20.23.

If I forgave any thing to whom I forgave it, I [Page 244]forgave it in the person of Christ, 2 Cor. 2.10.

Secondly, let thy Mi­nister pray over thee: Is any sick among you? let him call for the Elders of the Church, and let them pray over him.

If he hath commited sins, they shall be forgi­ven him, Jam. 5.14, 15.

Thirdly, let him give thee the Sacrament of the Lords Supper.

This is the best viati­cum, and provision for so long a journey.

I may say to thee as [Page 245]the Angel to Eliah, Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for thee.

And if with Eliah, thou dost eat and drink, thou maist travell in the strength of this meat to Horeb the mount of God, 1 Kings 19.7, 8.

This is the bread that came down from Hea­ven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.

Who so eateth my flesh, and drinketh my bloud, hath eternall life, and I will raise him up at the last day, Joh. 6.51, 54.

V. Euseb. hist. l. 5. c. 45.3. Set thine house in order, 2 Kings 20.1.

This will not make thee die more quickly, but more quietly.

4. Remember the poor. When we have beene kindly entertained at a friends house, it is good manners to give the ser­vants something when we goe away.

Blessed is he that con­sidereth the poore, the Lord will deliver him in the time of trouble.

The Lord will streng­then [Page 247]him upon the bed of languishing: and will make all his bed in his sicknesse, Psal. 41.1, 3.

5. If thou beest a fa­ther or mother of chil­dren, call them before thee, and blesse them.

So did Jacob when he departed, Gen. 49.1.

6. Make restitution (if thou beest able) to such as thou hast wronged, and defrauded.

Without restitution there is no remission.

Enquire with Samuel whose oxe thou hast ta­ken, [Page 248]or whose asse thou hast taken, whom thou hast defrauded, whom thou hast oppressed, or of whose hand thou hast received a bribe, and re­store it.

Send for them who have offended thee, and forgive them: and for those whom thou hast offended, and ask for­givenesse.

Lastly, resign, and give over thy self to God.

Behold, here I am, let the Lord do to me, as seemeth good to him, 1 Sam. 15.26.

Not my wil, but thine be done. And if thus thou beest prepared at the day of death, oh well is thee, and happy shalt thou be, Psal 128.2.

Blessed is that servant whom his Lord when he cometh shall finde thus doing, thus dying, Mat. 24.46.

CAP. I. There shall bee a day of Judgment.

IT is an Article of our faith, that CHRIST who n [...]w sits at the right hand of his Father, shall come from thence to judg the quick and the dead.

Enoch the seventh from Adam prophesied of it, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thou­sand of his Saints;

To execute Judgment upon all, and to con­vince [Page 256]all that are ungod­ly of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against h [...]m, Iude 14, 15.

God shall bring every work into judgement, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evill, Ec­cles. 12.14.

I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God.

The Sea gave up the [Page 257]dead which were in it: and death and hell deli­vered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to his works, Rev. 20.13.

It is very observable, that all other Articles of the Creed have been op­posed by Heretiques ei­ther in whole, or in part; but no Heretique denied a day of judgment. Vide Danaeum in his Cat. of heresies against the Creed.

In this world, Solomon says, no man can know [Page 258]love or hatred by all that is before them. For all things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked, to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean: to him that sa­crificeth, & to him that sacrificeth not; as is the good, so is the sinner; & he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath, Ec­cles. 9.1, 2.

Now shall not the Judge of all the world do right? Gen. 18.25.

There must be a day [Page 259]wherein the wicked shall be punished, and the ver­tuous rewarded.

A day wherein God will put a difference be­twixt an Israelite, and an Aegyptian; betwixt a Sheep and a Goat; be­twixt wheat and tares.

There shall be a day when I will make up my Jewels, and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.

Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wick­ed, [Page 260]between him that serveth God, and him that serveth him not, Mal. 3.17, 18.

I confesse the wicked are sometimes punished in this world, to assure us there is a God; yet it is but sometimes, to as­sure us there is a day of judgment.

Verily there is a re­ward for the righteous: verily there is a God that judgeth the earth, Psal. 58.11.

CAP. II. An Objection answered.

IT is certain that the soul so soon as it is se­parated from the body, is presented to God, and receives an irrevocable doome, either of woe, or weal.

The rich man died and presently was in hell in torments, the begger di­ed and was immediately carried by Angels into Abrahams bosome. Luke 16.22, 23.

So that it may be de­manded; [Page 262]What need is there of a general day of judgment, seeing every man is judged at the day of his death?

CAP. III. The Names given to this Day.

THis day is called in the Scripture, The day of the Lord.

Alas, for the day: for the day of the Lord is at hand. Joel 1.15.

Your selves know per­fectly, [Page 268]that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night, 1 Thes. 5.2.

Looking for and hast­ning unto the coming of the day of GOD, 2 Pet. 3.12.

This life is called Our Day.

O Jerusalem; if thou hadst known, at least in this Thy day, the things that belong to thy peace, Luke 19.42.

For we think our own thoughts, & speak our own words, and doe our own pleasure.

But that shall be the Lords day; for the lofty looks of man shall be humbled, & the haughti­ness of men shal be bow­ed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day, Isa. 2.11.

Secondly, it is called a Day of Revelation, or Opening, Rom. 2.5.

Never was there such an opening, as will be at that day.

The heavens shall be opened, and those ever­lasting doors shall be lift up, that the King of glo­ry [Page 270]may go forth with his Angels to judge the world, and return back again with his Saints, when he hath judged it.

The Earth shall be o­pened, for the stone shall be rolled from the mouth of every Sepul­chre, and the graves shall give up their dead.

The Books shall be o­pened.

I saw the dead, small and great, stand before the Lord, and the books were opened: and ano­ther book was opened [Page 271]which was the book of life; and the dead were judged out of those things which were writ­ten in the books, accor­ding to their works, Rev. 20.12.

The secrets of all hearts shall be opened.

There is nothing hid that shall not be manife­sted; neither any thing kept secret that shall not come abroad, Mar. 4.22.

In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ ac­cording to my Gospell, Rom. 2.16.

Hell shall be opened to receive those wretch­es, to whom it shall be said, Goe ye cursed into everlasting fire, prepared for the divel and his an­gels.

Thirdly, it is called a Day of refreshing. Re­pent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out when the times of refre­shing shall come from the presence of the Lord, Acts 3.19.

What a refreshing wil it be, when our rotten, [Page 273]and worm-eaten carkas­ses shall rise up in honor and in incorruption, as flowers after a long winter?

What a refreshing wil it be, when these two an­cient friends, the soul and the body, after so long a separation shall imbrace, and kisse each other?

What a refreshing will it be to see the Divel our worst enemy, and Death our last enemy, cast into the lake of fire?

What a refreshing wil it be to see Jesus Christ [Page 274]the Savior of the world, and the head of his Church, come in his glo­ry, attended with an in­numerable company of Angels?

What a refreshing wil it be, to hear those sweet sentences of absolution?

Well done, good and faithfull servant, enter thou into thy Masters joy.

Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdome prepared for you.

Fourthly, in respect of [Page 275]the wicked, it is called a day of wrath. After thy hardnesse, and impeni­tent heart, thou treasu­rest up for thy self wrath against the day of wrath, Rom. 2.5.

As also a day of dark­nesse and gloominesse, a day of clouds, and of thick darknesse, Joel 2.2.

The Sun is pleasing to a good eye, but offen­sive to an eye that is ill affected.

The day of judgment is a bath of refreshing to the godly, but a burning [Page 276]Oven to the wicked:

Behold the day com­eth that shall burn as an Oven, and all the proud, yea, and all that doe wickedly, shall be stubble, Mal. 4.1.

Fiftly, it is called a great day. The Angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habi­tation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains of darknesse, unto the judg­ment of the Great day. Jude 6.

The Sun shall be tur­ned into darknesse, and [Page 277]the Moon into blood, be­fore that great and nota­ble day of the Lord come, Acts 2.20.

It is a great day indeed, sith so many great and notable things shall be done in it.

For the Lord himself shall descend from hea­ven with a shout, with the voice of the Arch­angel, 1 Thes. 4.16.

And he shall send his Angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather toge­ther the Elect from the [Page 278]four winds, from one end of heaven, unto the o­ther, Mat. 24.31.

And then the heavens shall passe away with a great noise, and the Ele­ments shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up, 2 Pet. 3.10.

How great a day must that needs be, wherein the accompts and recko­nings of all Days must be audited and cast up?

Lastly, it is commonly and usually called the [Page 279]Day of Judgment, for it is the generall Assise wherein every man must be arraigned, and hold up his hand at the barre.

Both old men and maidens: young men and children.

Kings of the earth, and all people: Princes, and all Judges of the earth.

CAP. I. Christ is the Judge.

IT is true that the whole Trinity shall judge us: for so great an action cannot passe without the [Page 281]consent and authority of the three Persons.

Yet it is ascribed to Christ in respect of im­mediate execution.

He shall appear visibly in his humane nature, & give the sentence.

The Father judgeth no man, but hath commit­ted all judgment to the Son, John 5.22.

He hath appointed a day wherein he will judg the world in righteous­nesse, by that man whom he hath ordained, Acts 7.31.

We shall all stand be­fore the Judgment seat of Christ, Rom. 14.10.

So that where Christ sayes, he came not to judg the world, Joh. 12.47. understand it of his first, not of his second coming.

Fit it is that Christ should judg the world who was judged by it: that so once in this world, he may shew his power, and Majesty, in the sight of all his crea­tures, especially of Pon­tius Pilate, Annas, Caia­phas, [Page 283]and the Jews, who condemned and crucifi­ed him.

They shall look upon me whom they have pierced, Zach. 12.10.

Fit it is, that Men should be judged by one that is a Man.

The comfort that we have against the terrors of this day is, that we shall be judged by the Man Christ Jesus.

One man is a God un­to another. Fear not, I am your brother Ioseph.

CAP. II. Christ a severe Judge.

CHrist in his first com­ing was a Lambe, but in his second he shall be a Lion.

His fan is in his hand; and he will throng hly purge his floor, and ga­ther his wheat into his garner, but will burn up the chaff with unquench­able fire, Mat. 3.12.

Hence it is that the very best of the Saints tremble at the apprehen­sion of this day.

David was a man after Gods own heart: yet,

My flesh trembleth for fear of thee: I am afraid of thy judgments, Psal. 119.120.

Enter not into judg­ment with thy servant, ô Lord, for in thy sight shall no man living be justified, Psal. 143.2.

Job was a man emi­nent for all graces: yet he stood amazed at the consideration of this Iudge.

Whom though I were righteous, I would not [Page 286]answer: but I would make supplication to my Iudg, Iob 9.15.

What shall I do when God riseth up? & when he visiteth, what shall I answer him? Iob 31.14.

Paul was a chosen ves­sell, one that knew no­thing by himself yet says he, I am not thereby ju­stified, for it is the Lord that judges me. And the Lord judges not as a man judges, 1 Cor. 4.4.

S. Ierome confesseth that his whole body trembled so oft as hee [Page 287]thought upon this day.

The righteous shall scarcely be saved, 1 Pet. 4.18.

Many there are who passe currant in the judg­ment of the world; who when they shal be weigh­ed in Christs ballances will be found too light. Good reason then hath every man to pray as the Church teaches him; In the day of Judgement good Lord deliver me.

CAP. III. Christ an upright Judge.

HEE shall judge the world in righteous­nesse: he shall minister judgment to the people in uprighteness, Psal. 9.8.

The Lord cometh to judge the earth: with righteousnesse shall he judg the world, and the people with equity, Psal. 98.9.

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousnesse, which the Lord the righteous [Page 289]Iudge shall give me at that day, 2 Tim. 4.8.

The Iudges of the earth may absolve the guilty, and condemn the innocent, being corrup­ted By fear:

Pilate for the fear of Caesar condemned Christ, whom the testi­mony of his own consci­ence pronounced inno­cent.

But this judge cannot be thus corrupted: for,

Whom shall he fear, that is omnipotent? or of whom shall he be a­fraid, [Page 290]that shal come with great power and glory? Mar. 14.26.

Or they may be corru­pted with their own affe­ction of love, or hatred. Herod adjudges John Baptist to death, for the love of Herodias daugh­ter.

Josephs brethren cast him into the pit because they hated him, Ge. 37.4.

But this Judg cannot be thus corrupted: for,

He is no accepter of persons, Acts 10.34.

He shall not judg af­ter [Page 291]the sight of his eyes, but with righteousnesse shall he judge his people, Isa. 11.3, 4.

He will render to eve­ry man according to his deeds, whether Iew or Gentile, Rom. 2.6.9.

Or they may be cor­rupted with bribes: Je­thro well advised Moses to chuse such men for Judges as hated cove­tousnesse, Exod. 18.21.

Thou shalt not wrest judgment, thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift [Page 292]doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous, Deut. 16.19.

Christ our Iudge can­not be so corrupted.

If he would take a bribe, thou shalt have none to give him at that day.

But if thou couldest give him the Kingdoms of the world, & the glo­ry of them, he would re­fuse; for he is the Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not per­sons, [Page 293]nor taketh reward, Deut. 10.17.

A good conscience wil doe us more good then, then a full purse.

Riches profit not in the day of wrath, but righteousnesse delivereth from death, Prov. 11.4.

CAP. IV. Christ an All knowing Judge.

AS his uprightnesse is such that he cannot be corrupted, so his knowledge is such that [Page 294]he cannot be deceived.

He shall not reprove after the hearing of his ears, Isa. 11.3.

He shall not judge us according to the report and testimony of others which is uncertain, but according to his own in­tuitive knowledg, which is infallible.

Come and see a man which told me all the things that ever I did: Is not this the Christ? John 4.29.

Neither is there any creature that is not ma­nifest [Page 295]in his sight: but all things are naked, & ope­ned unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do, Heb 4.13.

The word in the Ori­ginall imports such an o­penness, as when the skin is pulled off, & the back chined down, so that the very entrails, and most secret passages of nature may be discerned.

These things hast thou done, and I kept silence, thou thoughtest I was altogether such a one as thy self, but I will re­prove [Page 296]thee, and set them in order before thine eys, Psal. 50.21.

Hence it is that he is said to keep a book of remembrance by him, Mal. 3.16.

Some sins are said to be secret in respect of him that commits them. Who can understand his errours?

Cleanse thou me from my secret faults, Ps. 19.12

Or in respect of the world. The Adulterer eats his pleasant bread in secret, Prov. 9.17.

But no sins are secret in respect of God: for,

He sets our iniquities before him: even our se­cret sins in the sight of his countenance, Psal. 90.8.

At that day then in vain will it be for us to deny the fact, or to ex­cuse it, or to shift and transferre it from one to another: for,

The Lord seeth not as man seeth, 1 Sam. 16.7.

CAP. V. Christ is an inexorable Judg.

AS this Iudge cannot be corrupted, nor deceived; so neither can he be intreated: Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation, 2 Cor. 6.2.

Seek the Lord whilst he may be found, call upon him whilst he is near, Isa. 55.6.

That is a time of judg­ment, and though we cry as loud as thunder, [Page 299]he will not hear us, though we cut our selves with lancers, as Baals Priests, till the blood gush out, he will not re­gard us.

Wil God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him? Job 27.9.

Because I have called and ye refused, I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded:

I also will laugh at your calamity, and mock when your fear cometh.

Then shall they call upon me, but I will not [Page 300]answer: they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me, Prov. 1.24, 26, 28.

The foolish Virgins knock at the door of mercy, but it is shut a­gainst them, Mat. 25.11.

Then will I professe unto them, I never knew you: depart from me ye that work iniquity, Mat. 7.23.

CAP. I. Who art thou?

TO this thy answer wil be that thou art a Man.

Christ wil [...] reply unto thee, If a man, shew me my Image wherein I created thee.

Caesars peny was known by Caesars Image, and su­perscription.

When Jacob saw the coat of his son Joseph, It is my sons coat, says he, but an evil beast hath devoured him, Gen. 37.33.

So Christ will say to us at the day of judge­ment, This is the face and figure of a man, but an evil beast hath devoured my Image.

The Drunkard hath lost the Image of God, and laid a swine in the room of it.

The Covetous hath lost the Image of God, and laid a ravenous wolf in the room of it.

The Adulterer hath lost the Image of God, and laid a goat or an horse in the room of it.

The crafty and con­tentious person, hath lost the Image of God, and laid a fox and a dog in the room of it.

They have corrupted themselves, and their spot is not the spot of his children, Deut. 32.5.

Man that is in honour and understandeth not, may be compared to the beasts that perish, Psal. 49.20.

And no beast shall en­ter into the new Jerusa­lem: for

Without are dogs, Rev. 22.15.

CAP. II. Of what Religion.
The next Interrogatory will be, Of what Religi­on art thou?

TO passe by Turks, Iewes, Infidels, thy answer will be, I am a Christian.

Jacob professes to his Father, that he was his very son Esau, and yet was not.

The Church of Sardis had a name to be alive, yet was dead, Rev. 3.1.

Many shall say at that [Page 306]day, Lord, Lord, we have been baptized in thy Name, we have called upon thy Name, we have prophesied in thy Name, who notwithstanding are workers of iniquity.

A Christian is a name of Duty, as well as of Dignity.

You are my Friends if you doe whatsoever I command you, Ioh. 15.14

By this shall all men know that you are my Disciples, if ye love one another, Iohn 13.35.

As many of you as [Page 307]have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ, Gal. 3.27.

They that are Christs, have crucified the flesh, with the affections and lusts, Gal. 5.24.

Art thou a Christian, who hast taken the mem­bers of Christ and made them the members of an harlot? 1 Cor. 6.15.

Art thou a Christian, who hast seen Christ na­ked, & hast not clothed him: hungry, and hast not fed him: thirsty, and hast given him no drink: [Page 308]sick, and in prison, and hast not visited him.

In a word, art thou a Christian that hast lived in the practice of grosse and known sins?

What Communion is there betwixt Christ and Belial, betwixt light and darknesse, betwixt righteousnesse & unrigh­teousness? 2 Cor. 6.15.

The Jews boasted they were the children of A­braham, but Christ tels them they were the chil­dren of the Divell, be­cause they did his works, John 8.44.

If thou beest not a true, but a titular Chri­stian, having a form of godlinesse, but not the power of it, thy judg­ment wil be more heavy, and intolerable, then that of Turks and Infidels.

The Servant that knows his Masters will, and does it not, shall be beaten with many stripes.

Unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required, Luke 12.47, 48.

Verily I say unto you, [Page 310]it shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomor­rah at the day of judge­ment, then for you, Mat. 10.15.

It had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, then after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them, 2 Pet. 2.21.

I therefore beseech you to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, Ephes. 4.1.

And let every one that [Page 311]nameth the name of Christ, depart from ini­quity, 2 Tim. 2.19.

And let us pray as our Church teaches us in the Collect for the third Sunday after Easter:

CAP. III. Of what Profession.

THe next Interroga­tory will be the same that the Marriners put to Jonas.

What is thine occupati­on? Jonah 1.8.

Art thou a Magistrate? Supreme, an Emperour, King &c. or subordinate, an inferiour officer, Go­vernor? 1 Pet. 2.13, 14.

Thou shalt be exami­ned;

First, if thou hast maintained Gods true Religion, and beene a nursing Father to the Church, Isa. 49.23.

If thou hast rooted out Heresie, Idolatry, super­stition, 1 King. 15.12.

If thou hast provided Ministers to instruct the people, and maintenance for those Ministers.

Jehoshaphat sent the Priests, and Levites, and the Book of the Law of the Lord with them, and they went about throughout all the Ci­ties [Page 314]of Iudah, and taught the people, 2 Chron. 17.9.

Hezekiah commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem, to give the portion of the Priests, & the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the Law of the Lord, 2 Chron. 31.4.

If thou hast built, and repaired the house of God, and places of his worship, as did Solomon, Josiah.

Secondly, if thou hast been an example of ver­tue and godlinesse to thy people.

David himself dances before the Ark, and the house of Israel follow him, 2 Sam. 6.14.

The King of Ninivie was the first that hum­bled himself in sackcloth and ashes, and then the inhabitants of the City did likewise.

Examples of great per­sonages have a strong in­fluence, nay, as it were a violence upon inferiors.

Caesar filled the Empire with Soldiers, Augustus, with Scholars, &c.

Thirdly, if they have [Page 316]provided good Laws, & executed them, that such as live under them may be godly and quietly go­verned.

Good Laws are such as are agreeable to the Law of Nature, and the word of God.

And they are then ex­ecuted, when great flies are taken as well as small ones.

Fourthly, if thou hast punished the wicked, and cherished the good.

Mine eyes shall be up­on the faithfull of the [Page 317]Land, that they may dwell with me; he that walketh in a perfect way, shall be my servant:

But I will early de­stroy all the wicked of the Land, that I may cut off all wicked doers from the City of God, Psal. 101.6, 8.

Kings and Governors are sent by God for the punishment of evill do­ers, and for the praise of them that doe well, 1 Pet. 2.14.

It cannot be wel then if Crows be pardoned & Pi­geons punished.

Fiftly, if thou hast heard the cries of the poor, re­ceived their petitions, re­dressed their wrongs.

Defend the poor and fatherlesse: do justice to the afflicted and needy.

Deliver the poor, and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked, Psal. 82.3, 4.

Be wise now therefore O ye kings: be instructed ye that are Judges of the earth, Psal. 2.10.

Remember there will be Deus & dies ultionis, A God, and a day of vengeance.

CAP. II. The sentence of Absolution shall be first pronounced.

THE good Servant was rewarded & ad­mitted into his Masters joy: and then the evil & unprofitable servant was punished and cast into utter darkness, Mat. 25.

They on the right hand are called to a king­dome: and then they on the left are cast into fire, Mat. 25.

God will not cast the wicked into hell, till they [Page 331]have seen something of the happinesse of the Saints, which increaseth their grief and torment.

The wicked shall see it, & be grieved, he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away, Psal. 112.10.

Or, else, it may bee, Christ begins with the sentence of Absolution, to shew that he had rather save us, then damn us.

He is slow to anger, Psal. 103.8.

A God that delight­eth not in the death of a sinner.

His own nature inclines him to save us, our sins urge and provoke him to damne us.

Therefore if he must punish, he comes as it were unwillingly to it, and reserves it for the last place.

CAP. III. The sentence of condem­nation.

THe sentence of Con­demnation shal be de­nounced in these words:

Not a word in this sen­tence, but is a wound; not a syllable, but is a sword piercing the heart; not a letter, but is as loud and terrible as a clap of thunder.

How shall the loyns of the wicked tremble, and their joynts be loo­sed, & their knees knock together, to hear Christ pronounce them cursed?

Cursed, because of the punishment of losse, Depart ye.

There is their banish­ment, & exclusion from him, who is the fountain of life, the light of glo­ry, and in whose presence there is fulnesse of joy.

Cursed because of the punishment of Sense.

Depart ye into fire, there is the extremity.

Into fire everlasting. there is the eternity.

Prepared for the Di­vel and his Angels, there is their Company.

Immediately after these sentences are pronoun­ced, shall follow execu­tion.

The wicked shall goe away into everlasting pu­nishment: but the righ­teous into life eternall, Mat. 25.46.

CAP. I. Terrour to the wicked.

AS Paul reasoned of righteousnesse, tem­perance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, Acts 24.25.

The Jews fell back­ward when they came to apprehend Christ in the days of his humility: how then shal they stand [Page 337]before him when he shal come in glory and maje­sty?

How terrible must this day needs be: when,

The mountaines shall quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth bee burnt up at his pre­sence, yea the world, and all that dwell therein?

Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide the fiercenesse of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are throwne down by him, Nah. 1.5, 6.

What a hard distresse shall the wicked be in, when they shall have

On one side their sins accusing.

On the other the ju­stice of God terrifying.

The gulf of hell ga­ping under them.

An angry Judge frowning over them.

Within them a con­science stinging.

Without them the world burning? An­selme.

Surely the Kings of the earth, and the great [Page 339]men, and the rich men, and the chief Captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and e­very free man, shall hide themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; and shall say to the mountains, and rocks, fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.

For the great day of his wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand? Rev. 6.15, 16, 17.

Rejoyce ô young man in thy youth, and let thy heart chear thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine own heart, & in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee to judgment, Ec­cles. 11.9.

O consider this, you that forget God, lest he tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver you, Psal. 50.22.

Knowing the terrors of the Lord, we perswade men, 2 Cor. 5.11.

CAP. II. Comfort to the godly.

THen shall they see the Son of man com­ing in a cloud with pow­er and great glory.

And when these things begin to come to passe, then look up, and lift up your heads, for your re­demption draweth nigh, Luke 21.27, 28.

The Lord himself shall descend from hea­ven with a shout; with the voice of the Arch­angell, and with the [Page 342]trump of God, &c.

Wherfore comfort ye one another with these words, 1 Thes. 4.16, 17.

When Christ ascen­ded, the Angels comfor­ted the Disciples in this manner:

This same Jesus which is taken up from you in­to heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven, Acts 1.11.

Hence it is, that the righteous are said to love the day of his ap­pearing, for then they [Page 343]shall receive a crown of righteousness, 2 Tim. 4.8.

The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble, and he knoweth them that trust in him, Nahum 1.7.

But of this we have heard before, where this day in respect of the godly is called a day of refreshing & redemption.

CAP. III. Instruction to all.

IF it be thus, what man­ner of men ought we to be in all holy conversati­on [Page 344]on and godliness? 2 Pet. 3.11.

That which raised up the soul of S. Jerome to such a pitch of devotion, was the continuall me­ditation of this day.

Whether I eat or drink, or whatsoever I do, me thinks I hear the last trump sounding in my ears, Arise ye dead, and come to judgment.

We must give an ac­count not only for our presumptuous sins, but for our smallest sins.

I say unto you, That [Page 345]of every idle word that men shal speak, they shall give account thereof at the day of judgment, Mat. 12.36.

We shall reckon not only for our own sins, but for the sins of others, which we have occasio­ned by our command, company, counsell, or ill example.

We shall reckon for the talents of grace and nature: and for the preci­ous time afforded to us.

Hear the end of all, fear God, and keep his Com­mandments, [Page 346]for God will bring every work in­to Judgment, Eccles. 12.13, 14.

Abound in the works of mercy and charity, for according to them wee shall be judged, Mat. 25. Judge your selves here, & you shall not be judg­ed hereafter, 1 Cor. 11.31.

As for the time when, or the place where the Judgment seat of Christ shall be erected,

O my soul enter not into these secrets.

Such knowledg is too [Page 347]wonderfull for thee.

Secret things belong to the Lord our God, and revealed things to us and our children.