faithfull man is a Garden inclosed where Christ looketh for fruite and commeth down thither by his spirite gathering the fruites of obedience sanctimony praise thanks giuing Nowe wee haue the conclusion of the whole remayning to bee spoken of verse 19. I am my beloueds and my beloued is mine who feedeth among the Lillies Thirdly the conclusion This is the thirde parte in generall of the maner of the comming on of the spouse or of her obeying of her calling and admitting of the suit of her louer which I noted to be the second part of the chapiter For after the suit of her husband wherof you haue heard verse 1. and 2. her manner of comming on in beeing incumbred with lets at the first yet ouer striding them and recouering her zeal breaking foorth into a noble and famous description of her louer wherby she affecteth her companions greatly towardes him now in a triumphing maner incouraging others by her example she concludeth with an Epiphonema and finitiue sentence or determination assuring her selfe to bee one with her loue and maketh vp the match in her hearte with Christ Iesus purposing to holde out in faithfull loue to the ende towardes him Perswading also her owne hearte of his faithfull permanent and eternal loue towardes her So that we will consider in this laste clause and sentence as the vpshot of the whole matter Two things in the conclusion First the holye societie communion coniunction and vnitie that is betweene Christ and his Church ioyned with an indissoluble bande and knot Secondly the perseueraunce also the constant permanent and certaine estate of the Godlye and elect whereby they stand assured of the eternal loue of Christe Iesus towardes them First the vnitye between christ and his Church and of their owne saluation in him First therefore concerning the comfortable vnitie and coniunction of Christ with his Church We see that it is described vnto vs by many similitudes in the scriptures wherein most liuely effectually and coÌ„fortably that holy spiritual and sacred society wherby we are incorporate into Christe is discouered As in the 15. Chapiter of the Euangelist Saint Iohn our sauiour Christe vnder the parable of a Vine and the branches sheweth the mutual loue betweene him and his members as also the sweet coniunction whereby they are necessarily ioyned togeather that the life of the one standeth not without the life of the other and the perfection of the one is not without the perfection of the other For Christe hath inseperably ioyned all the faithful vnto him selfe so as without them hee counteth him selfe as it were vnperfect Therefore Paul Ephes 1.23 after hee had magnified the grace of God towarde the elect and highly commended the excellency of Christe Iesus whome God had made the head of his Church he concludeth that the Church as it is the body of Christ so it is his fulnesse As if he should say in that God the Father hath ordayned his Sonne to bee the heade of his Church euen as the head without the body is not full but vnperfect and the body wanting any member is not in al parts complete so with out the number of his saintes which shold fulfil the mistical body of Christ euen Christe him selfe is after a sort vnperfect Not that hee is so in him selfe for he is in his owne nature full infinite and perfect admitting neither maius nor minus But this is the riches of his grace that he â—ath so vnited euery one of his saints and elect vnto him as he can not want any one of them The force of this speech is wonderful to him that hath the eyes of faith and exceedingly comfortable to the troubled conscience which hath once in trueth tasted of the mercies and grace of God in whome also the worke of faith hath béen truely begun though it be sometime in a dampe and as it were smoothered vp yea it can not but rauishe them to see that Christ cannot want nor cut of any member that hee hath once begun to graft into him self But as the Vines and such like plantes euery braunch thereof receiueth iuyce moysture life and nourishment from the stocke and root hath also a necessary communitie with the stocke in all thinges so as from the stocke or root is conueyed life and nourishment to euery braunch so euery faithful person which is in Christ receiue from him al necessary iuyce and supplement to the nourishing and preseruing of a spiritual life in them Though sometime some of the braunches hang the head but yet they which are planted of the heauenly Father shal neuer be cut off but shal haue life eternal with Christ Iesus This thing also is set foorth vnto vs in the simile of a body euen of the head and the members Therefore as I sayd Christ is called the head of the Churche Ephes 1.22 Col. 1.18 For there is a mutual analogie and proportion betwetne the head and the members and Christ his Church Wherfore the whole Churche considered in Christ and his members is called not only a body but also it is called by the name of Christ 1. Cor. 12.12 So as there is a necessary vnitie betweene Christ and his members wherby they are made one therefore followeth in the 13. verse of that Chapter that by one spirite we are al baptized into one bodye whether Iewes or Gentiles bonde or free Wherein the holye and swéete Communion betweene Christe and his members is layde foorth so as verse 27. hee concludeth nowe you are the body of Christ members for your part noting that they alone without other churches were not the bodye of Christ but they with al other shold be associate to the church in al times and places Furthermore certain it is that as the body can not bee absolutely perfect if it want any euen the least member so Christe counteth not himselfe perfect til he hath euery one of his meÌ„bers namely the beléeuers vnited vnto him And this body of Christ which is the Church receiueth life from him yea euery meÌ„ber is nourished kept maintained by one the same spirit which being derided from Christ spreadeth it selfe by equall measure according to the proportion of fayth into euery beleeuer So as the spirite of God is as it were the soule of the Church whereby euery member receiueth of the fulnes of Christ being quickened by him liuing by a common life with Christ whereby they are assured that they are one with him and haue life in him So as Paul Gal. 2.20 testifieth that when he was in Christe he liued not but Christ liued in him And albeit the members of Christ haue not alwayes a like feeling of life in them selues but somtime they seeme to be benumbed and a colde as it were hauinge no nimblenesse or agilitye in them selues yea as it were a sleepe and voyd of feeling so as they scantly can haue comfort that they are of the body of Christ
of Gods promise in them selues which concerne euerlasting life yea and desiring to feele that comfort of his loue which for the time they can not feele Which I dare warrant to that soule that feeleth these in truth that they are sure arguments certain and infallible tokens that he is one with Christ For as that member which is a sléepe benoumed brused or hurt do not cease to be a mēber of the body though it looseth some strength for the time but is after recouered to strength and féeling again so euery hurt or wound which the saints of God haue of their infirmities is not by and by a cutting off from Christe For this continual societie or vnity of Christ with his Church is not for a time but for euer not onely in the whole Church but also in euery particuler member thereof Rom. 8.35.38.39 Paule triumpheth in the person of the beleeuers that nothing coulde seperate them from the loue of God which is in Iesus Christ our Lord. Though therfore many od thoughtes or surmises may incumber vs for a time so long as we dislike them in our selues stryuing against them groning for grace of God to suppresse them yet we may boldely saye with the spouse I am Christes and Christ is mine for so long as we hold him ours hauing a true hearty and longing desire after him so long wee are his Of this vnitye commeth necessarily that certainty of perseueraunce and of saluation 2. The certeinety of perseuerance and saluation of the saints which the Saintes of God haue in this life which is the second thing that I noted vnto you out of this conclusion of the Spouse For looke of what condition the roote and stock is concerning the vnity and abiding of the same condition and nature are the braunches but Christ the true root and Vine is eternal therfore his Church or company of the beleeuers which are the braunches of that Vine are eternal The head is eternal therfore the body and members are eternal The foundation of that spiritual house neuer decayeth therfore neyther the building The husband of the Church is euerlasting and can not perishe therefore the company of the beleeuers which are his wife can neuer perishe For the reason of the consequence of these argumētes standeth in the nature of those qualities that are in God and not in the nature of the things them selues For as Christ can not cease to be eternal no more then his father can so the state of the godly can not cease to be eternal vnles God and Christ shoulde cease from their eternity For whatsoeuer quality is resident in the nature of God is alwais the same because the Godhead is not mutable nor contrary in it selfe but alway like it selfe Wherefore vnlesse God and Christ shold cease to be them selues the Church or beleeuers which were elect before al time can not cease to be eternal in so much as the loue wherewith he loueth his eternal and chāgeth not For Io. 13.1 Those whom he loueth to the ende he loueth them So that the Godly which haue once in truth tasted of the loue of God can no more perishe then the loue of God it selfe can perish or his mercy come to an end This causeth the spouse in the confidence of Gods fauor to assure her selfe that Christ is hers Now as this is true in the whole Church that it is permanent and can not perishe but be saued So is it true in euery member wherby they may be assured of saluation in them selues and of their perserance How soeuer the Papists would hold soules in vnstablenes in suspence and doubt of their saluation alway Certaine it is that in some measure the children of God haue assuraunce of their saluation in this life though not at al times alike nor al men alike assurance That the Church or elect in general can not but be saued there is no man I suppose that doubteth But if any doubt I wil set down such proofs as come into my mind wherin the perseuerance of the elect shal easily appear but we must looke into thē with the eyes of faith for the eies of reason are not able once to looke vp into these misteries of faith psa 125.1.2 They that trust in the lord are as mount Sion which standeth fast for euer can not be remoued Also psa 89.30 God promiseth his mercies shal be eternal to Dauid after hee addeth that if his children sin Then I wil visit their transgressiō with the rod their iniquity with strokes Yet my louing kindnes wil I neuer take from him nor falsify my truth This being true in Dauid is also true in euery beléeuer Esa 43.4.7 he sheweth that as God maketh a precious account of his people loue them so they should be called by his name intitled to his inheritance he could not neglect their saluatiō but he must also neglect his own glory Likewise in his 49. chap he inferreth the church Esai 49.14 and verse 15 cōplaining that the lord had forsaken thē but the lord answereth that his loue surpasseth the dearest loue of mothers towards their children so as he can not forget them vnles he forget him self In so much as He hath grauen them in the palme of his hands and they are euer in his sight and verse 1◠The Lord Christ affirmeth Math. 16.18 That as the church is founded in him self So it should neuer perishe neither the gates of hel should preuail against it The like certainty of the saluation of the beléeuers our sauiour Christ auoucheth Ioh. 10. ver 28.29 That they which are his sheepe obey the voice of his worde shal neuer perish but haue euerlasting life Confirming his assertion by a reason drawn frō the nature of God his father that it was as impossible for any which truly beléeued in christ Iesus obeyed his voice to perish as it was for God his father him selfe to be ouercome which cā neuer be therfore nether can the beleeuers be frustrate of life saluation For he reasoneth that because his father he is one his father was of al power absolut that none cold euer master him or preuaile against him therefore none could euer master him or preuail against him therefore none could preuail against Christ him selfe being equal with his father in infinit power Therefore also consequently none can preuaile against the saluation of his elect which are in Christ Iesus So that God hath layde vp the saluation of euery beleeuer in him selfe in the heauens 1. Pet. 1.4.5 without the reach of Sathan hel the Pope and sinne so as we can not be defeated of it Yea none can depriue any of the Godly and faithful of their saluation vnlesse they first robbe God of his infinite power set Christ a side from that glory wherewith his father hath glorified him Yea shal I speake further But in reuerence of Gods frée grace the
we should set so light by it Is it because hee commeth no more in his owne person vnto vs Why the Heauens must containe him til he come to iudgement Acts. 3.21 What is it because he is poore of low degree or meane personage his riches are without price his parentage is of God his person is moste amiable What then is it because hee speaketh by others as his spokesmen and those men thraught with infirmities as our selues In deede this sticketh in the stomack of many for they contemne the word which is the suit of Christ because it is spoken by men so they esteem the sacred word as of men and not of God Surely he could haue sent the troup of his mighty glorious Angels to make his matche but he hath himselfe spoke in his owne person first nowe continueth his suite to vs in his behalfe by his ministers and faithfull seruantes For he hath put his treasure in earthy vessels that the excellencye of that power might be of God not of vs. 2. Cor. 4.7 Also We are ambassadors in Christs steed as though God did beseech you through vs so we pray you in Christes steede to be reconciled vnto God 2 Cor. 5.20 So as the Lorde hath ordeined Pastors and teachers in his church euen of men in his own name Paul he likewise labored to present the people a pure virgine vnto God 2. Cor. 11.2 Let vs not therefore my brethren despise the meanes which God hath ordeined to saue vs by and to make vp the match betweene his sonne and vs in our heartes least wee prouoke the Lords displesure If some great Prince should send of his nobles as ambassadors vnto any of vs or to a man of poors estate to beg his daughter for his onely sonne meaning to preferre her so honourably and his sonne louing her entirely were it not great discourtesye to refuse and woulde he not easily graunt to it so sith God sendeth oute his ministers to beg our soules for his deare sonne and requireth that we wil bestow our selues vppon him were it not a great contempt againste God and a worse daunger to our owne soules if wee shal refuse so gratious an offer Now as God vouchsafeth this honour to his ministers as to bee Suters for his sonne to his Church to call them to the heauenly banquet So they must not labour to winne the Church to them selues and to prefer their owne glory As the Pope which woulde haue the Church at his commaundement and so commit whooredome against Christe Or as many vaine glorious teachers which preach them selues not Christe Also seducers sectuaries c. They all play as the fals harted man which beeing put in trust to speake to a mayden for another doe wooe and make suite for them selues to tourne the liking of the mayden to their owne persons Thus many teachers playe the wantons with the Spouse of Christ Iesus when they should learne of Paul to present her perfect vnto Christe Howbeit the church of our times hath many wanton Sutors that wooe for them selues and not for Christe It is requisite that sith the ministers of the worde are to speake for so noble and heauenly a personage who is a rare Phoenix and the onely Sonne of the liuing God sent to his chosen Spouse vpon earth to offer the match of life to vnfould and discouer all the secretes of his heauenly and eternall loue spirituall and princely riches of his grace that they deale in these waightie matters moste reuerently wisely religiously carefully and faithfully to speak the Gospell and message of Christ as they ought to speake it and not to vtter themselues in preaching of Christ For many which preach the trueth after a sort yet ah alas nothing regarde the weight of this so honorable and holy ambassage For there are some which thinke Christe too base to bee preached simply in him selfe and therfore mingle with him too too much the wisedome of mans eloquence and thinke that Christe commeth nakedly vnlesse cloathed with vaine ostentaion of wordes Others esteeme him too homely simple and vnlearned vnlesse he bee beautified and blazed ouer with store of Gréeke or Laten sentences in the pulpits some recken of him as solitarie or as a priuate person with out honor and pompe vnlesse he bée brought foorth of them very solemnly accompaned and countenaunced with the auncient Garde of the fathers and Doctors of the Churche to speake for him or els he must be glosed out and painted with the frooth of Philosophi Poetry or such like And so regard not to preach Christ crucified to the Iewes A stumbling blocke to the Grecians folishnes but to them which are called both Iews Grecians Christ is the power of God and the wisedome of God 1. Cor. 1.23.24 I do not speake against learning wisedome the knowledge of tongues or the fathers abolishing all vse of them but highly esteming of the firste as the Lordes giftes and graces and reuerencing the Fathers as worthy instruments which the Lord vsed for their time And all these are necessary tyme person place and fit occasion seruing But I wold gladly Christ might appeare in his power by the pure handling of the Gospel though it be counted foolishe preaching of the world 1. Cor. 1.21 Yet it is the ordinary meanes appointed to saue them that beleeue And sure I cannot otherwise thinke of many which study to preach them selues and to haue their giftes yea some times those giftes which they haue not to be knowne rather then the power of God in his Gospel then of Babes and yong children which hauing any gay thing about them that they themselues think highly on thinke all men should delight in their gayes therefore they are alwayes pointing at their gay brooches pointes laces c. shewing euery one where they are gay So these men which preach them selues are alwayes poyncting at their gaye eloquence or giftes which they set more by then the pure handling of the worde But we are in Christes stéede to make suite for him to the soules of men wherefore we must deale faithfully with him For a wicked messenger faelleth into euill but a faythfull ambassadour is preseruation Prouerb 13.17 I therefore beloued though moste vnworthy to open my mouth in Christes behalf vnto you yet as one apoynted a sutor in the Lords cause and his Churches doe beseech you in the bowels of Iesus Christ that you woulde be wonne vnto him espousing both body and soule to be at his heauenly pleasure O despise not so gracious offers Let it not be your pride to say often nay to the Lordes suite it is more curtesie to let him speede at the first And though we haue heretofore listened to the suite of Sathan and he hath had his pleasure at our handes which might giue the Lorde iust cause to cast vs off and not to continue anie more his suite to vs yet if we will returne from our sinfull loue of