in this place called the Citty of God But some would say is not God euery where yea euen among the Turks why theÌ„ is the Church onely that is the congregation of Christians called the Cittie of GOD For Esay the Prophet saieth Cap. 66. Heauen is my seat and the earth is my footstool I answere God is euery wheare by power and essence but not euery whear by grace but in Christians onely whoe beléeue in Christ the Mediator Thereis God saide to dwell in his Church because the Church is that peculier people of God sanctified in the blood of Christ consecrated to God in Baptisme by the holy Ghost that it may be a liuely Temple and Tabernacle of God wherin hée dwelleth whereinto he powreth out his holy spirit with his guitts on which he bestoweth through Christ incorruptibility and eternitie For as touching Christians God specially faith in 26. Leuit. I will set my Tabernacle in the middest of you and my soule shall not loath you I will walk amoÌ„gst you and I wil be your God and you shal be my people vers 11 which place y e holy Apostle S. Paul 2 cor 6. referreth vnto all ChristiaÌ„s which are the people of God the true Church of Christ ver 19 And y e holy Euangelist S. Iohn in reuel cap 11. writeth Behold the tabernacle of god is with meÌ„ he wilbe with theÌ„ they shall be his people and God himselfe shal be their god with theÌ„ And the Prophet Ezechiel saith cap. 37. My tabernacle shall be in theÌ„ and I will be their God they shal be my people vers 27. After this maner doe the Prophets cal Christians the Citty of God As it is in the 46. Psalme The riches of the flood shal make glad the city of god the most highest hath sanctified his Tabernacle God is in the midst of her ther fore she shal not be remooued God will giue help vnto her and that right early And herevpon Aurelius Augustinus that reuerend and most exercised deuine in Scriptures when as he did confute y e Romanes blasphemies by reason of the irruptions of y e Goathes slaundering the way of trueth calleth the Church that is the coÌ„gregation of ChristiaÌ„s because she is predestinate to raign w t God for euer the city of God as in his first booke vnto Marcellinus appeareth for he was persuaded by the sacred Scriptures y t there wer two cities One the church of God which here amongst the vngodly in this world liuing by faith in Christ hath her perigrination or soiourning froÌ„ time to time place to place the other is of this world or pertaineth to the Deuil which hath y â— vngodlie ones not beleeuing in y e gospel of christ vessels of wrath prepared for euerlasting destruction w t the deuill his angels He deriueth y â— City of God as beginning at Abell who was a Soiourner in this worlde by grace predestinate vnto life by grace a Straunger on 〈…〉 The other he bringeth from Cain the murtherer which was first borne a Cittizen of this world of whome it is read that he builded a Cittie But of Abell a Pilgrim in this world we read not that he builded any Cittie This Cittie then of the holie ones is from aboue although it bringeth foorth Cittizens heare in this worlde in whom it liueth Stranger-like vntill the time of her Kingdome come when as she shall gather together all her Cittizens rising againe to life euen in their bodies when the Kingdome promised shall be geuen them where with their Prince the King of all holie ones they shall raigne worlde without end as the saide Augustine diligentlie handleth in Lib 15. Cap. 2. De Ciuitate Dei The Psalmograph therefore here saieth Very excellent things are spoken of thee thou Cittie of God Nowe except wee sleepe all too sluggishly and neglect our benefites to come it shall wel please vs to search out and discerne what glorious thinges these may bee which are spoken off touching or in the Church of 〈…〉 spoken of vâ— which â—e leeue in Christ and confesse Christ First and for most who hath at any time explaned this praise-worthy Title euen by dignity That Christians are called the Cittye of God For in this one Tytle all good thinges are vnderstoode namely y â— she inioyeth very good Lawes a most wise Magistrate faithfull mosts learned Teachers inuintible Warriors a quiet and most obedient People true Peace and Safetie true Holinesse Righteousnes true Joy sure or certain knowledge of speciall things and brieflye true life and Saluation for so is this Citie called because God dwelleth in her as in his owne house his beloued and holye Tabernacle And where God after this manner dwelleth by grace I praye ys what good things may be wanting doth not such a one dwell safelie And the Cittie so safe insulteth with S. Paule against her enemies on this manner If God be on our side who can be against vs. Rom 8. Wherfore if God be King and Lord in her there must ueedes be in her absolute felicitie by al meanes that is to say Righteousnesse and euerlasting saluatioÌ„ Christ the king of glorie with al his good graces dwel in the Church by good right then doth Paul first a persecutor and afterwardes a builder and defender of the Church call her glorious as in Ephes 5. And what are these Glorious thinges which are spoken of in or touching this Church The Church is called The holy and beloued spouse of Christ Ephes 5. whom as Oseas saith Christ the king of glory hath maried vnto himselfe for euer in righteousnes in iudgemeÌ„t and in mercy and coÌ„passioÌ„ faith that she may know how he is the Lord. cap 2. vers 19 20. The Church is thus diuersly also called The City of the liuing God Heb 13. Esa 60. The city of the great king a beautifull place and the ioy of all the whole earth Psal 47 vers 2. The people that dwell therin shall haue their iniquity forgeuen Esay 33. vers 24. The body of Christ 1 cor 12. Ephes cap 1. The piller and grouÌ„d of truth 1 Tim. 3. Mount Sion the heauenlye Ierusalem Heb. 12. vers 22. The hill of the Lord the holy hill Esay â— 63. The Temple of God 1 Cor. 3. vers 17. The Horne of saluation exalted in the house of Dauid the seruaÌ„t of God Luk. 1 The house of God Heb 3. 1 Tim. 3. The house of Iacob the seat of Dauid Esay 9. Luk. 1. A City sought out and not forsaken Esay 62. vers 12. Of this Ierusalem it is said Psal 147 Thy God hath made the Barres of thy Gates strong he hath blessed thy Children in thee He setteth peace in thy borders and satisfieth thee with the flower of wheat verses 13. and 14. The Queene on the right hand of God in a vesture of golde of Ophyr wrought with needle worke Psal 45. The King shall
ioine the Hebrue phrase vnto the Gréeke teâ—t and you shall see a goodly consonancy Glorious sayinges are ther of thee but in thee O City of God For without thée of thée is all euil spoken For those same glorious thinges which are spoken off touching y e Church are vndoubtedly not spoken of her but in the Church for without the Church the world that is the coÌ„gregation of the vngodly the spouse of the deuil the enemie of Christ with her Ruler is not glorious but speake meer extreame infamies or slaunders of the Church Without the Church wher the Gospell is scorned and hissed out of doores so soundeth the verse Reprochful things are spoken of thee O city of Satan For so also y e vngodly ones flatter theÌ„selues that they are the Catholike Children of God the ancient Christians and the City of God But others not honouring the Pope them doe they cal the children of Satan yea they condemne the Gospel of the grace of God or as the damnable doctrine and errour of Satan At Augusta one of those Papistes a Doctor of the Popes Diuinity by suggestion in presence of Duke Maurice cried out vpon theÌ„ which beleeued in y e Gospel of Christ which hee called the new Doctrine as persons infamous and vnworthely requested rightly to beare witnesse of y â— Truth before Judges or Magistrats as we say in Duch Sie sollen mir zukey â—er warheit odder zeugknus gut genug sein So Paul that most excelleÌ„t light of the Church was conteÌ„ptibly reckoned for a Sower of strange doctrine Actes 17. Paule and Silas were called Disturbers of the whole worlde ibidem Andâ—n times past as it appeareth in y e Apollogie of Tertullian against the Gentiles the Christians were of Gentiles named murtherers Church-robbers incestuous persons publique enemies murtherers of Infants procurers of wicked lusts Bawdes and Asse-heades in that they worshipped an Asses head as it were a God which suspition Cornelius Tacitus had stirred vp The assemblye of Christians to the Supper of the Lord was counted of the vngodly ones a Faction Christians were named the cause of all publique mischiefe and of all inconuenience amongst the people of the world If the riuer Tiber rose vp to the walles If the riuer Nilus flowed not vp ouer the fleldes if the Skies stood still if the earth quaked if euer any Famine or pestilence were by and by it was denounced Cast those Christians to the Lions Finally they were reprochfully called vnfruitful in their businesse and not good for any thing They were also called Sarmentitij Semitij because being bouÌ„d to a block of greate waight standing vpright and compassed about with fier wood they wer brent to ashes And for this cause also they were accompted desperate and cast away In Ciprians time there was among the enemies of the Christians one Demitrianus a man of great name which saide that all misschiefes whereby the world was tossed and turmoiled was to be imputed vnto the Christians for that the Boddes of the Gentiles wer not worshipped amongst them And then it was an offence to be a Christian Iulianus the Apostate in respecte of reproch called the Christians Galileans as Nazianzenus writeth The Iewes at Rome called the Christian faith and that congregation a Sett Of this sect say they vnto Paule it is knowen vnto vs that in euery place men speake against it Act. 28. Christ the head of the Church the husband and foundation thereof heard himselfe called of the Iewes a Samaritane aSeducer and deceiuer of the people one hauing a Deuill aud a sedicious person And in our time such as beleeue the Gospell and reiect the doctrines of men disagréeable to y â— Gospel y â— I may omit infinite other slaunders are called of the vngodly ones Lutherane Heretikes But Christ the husband of the Church in this world despised and abiect such is his vnsearcheable wisedome turneth euen these slaunders also into glorie for the Christians For who had not rather heare tenne hundreth thousande reproches of the vnprais-worthy Gentiles and vngodly persons abhominable before God and that for the name of Christ then to beare the state of a king and enioy at ease all the honoures and benefites of this worlde â— This one blessing of Christe confoundeth all the cruell curses of this worlde Blessed are you wheÌ„ men reuile you and shall speake all euill against you for my names sake falsly Reioice and bee glad because your rewarde is greate in heauen Math. 5. verses 11. and. 14. Vers 3 I will thinke vpon Rahab and Babilon with theÌ„ that knowe me Vers 4 Beholde the Philistines also and they of Tyre with the Morians loe ther was hee borne FIrst of al the names of the aforesaid Nations must be declared and the meaning of the Prophet shall more easily appeare Rahab therefore is a Sirname which Esay also in his 30 chap. giueth vnto Egipt because it was a proud People in whome when the Iewes put their hope and confidence they were deceiued Wherfore Esayas saieth For the Egiptiansare vanitie and they shall help in vaine Their Rahab or strength is to sit stil And in the 51 chap. Art not thou that same Arme that hath smitten the proud Egipt Arnobius and Augustine vnderstand by that same Strumpet in Iericho those y â— are wise in their owne conceites Unto the other Doctors Rahab seemeth to signifie rashnesse and insolency or pride wherewith the Egiptians are by good right entituled as the speciall Enemies of the the Iewes And Thargus the Hebrue writer in this place hath Mitsarri that is to say Egipt for Rahab Those persons called Allophili as it is in y â— Gréeke translation are Philistines For the Hebrue text hath Phelesser which S. Hierome translateth for Palestine And the same Hierome vpon the first Chapiter of Amos giueth to note that the 70 Interpreters called the Philistines alwaies Strangers borne For wheresoeuer saith he in the olde Testament wâ—â— read Straungers borne they are to bee vnderstoode not commonlye as touching all forraine Nations but properly of Philistines which nowe are called 〈…〉 These Nations that is to say Egiptians Babilonians Palestines Tyrians and Ethiopians were well knowen to the Iewes for their Neighbourhoode and for their malignant mindes towardes them Hereby therefore y â— Prophet teacheth in the person of God that the before mentioned people although hetherto they knewe not God and were manifestly vngodly and accursed as all other Nations being without hope and wanting knowledge of God in the world shall yet notwithstanding be receiued into the grace fauour of the Gospell As if he saide I wil remember those Nations amongst them which will knowe me that is amongst my elect true Christians which knowe and worship me by Faith in Christ Blessed is he which God so thinketh vpon that he is written in the booke of life what maner of life soeuer he led before hee yet through grace by
haue pleasure in thy beautie ibidem verses 9 and 11 Of this City saith the Lord I will be a wall of fire round about her and wil be the Glorie in the middest of her Zach. 2. In Sion wil I giue saluation and my glory vnto Israell Esa 46. vers 13. The vineyard of the Lord. Esa 5. vers 1 The Sister of Christ Cantiâ— 5. vers 1. My Doue is alone and my vndefiled Cap 6. vers 8. The Garden enclosed a Spring shutivp and a Fountaine sealed vp Cantic 4. verse 12 An Orcharde of Poungranets with sweet fruites c. Cantic 4. vers 14. The peculier people of Cod and folowers of good works 2. Titus ve 14. A Sprituall House 1 Pet. 2. cap. vers 9. A holy Priesthood 1 Pet. 2. cap. vers 9. A Chosen Generation 1 Pet. 2. cap. vers 9. A Royall Priesthood 1 Pet. 2. cap. vers 9. A Holy Nation 1 Pet. 2. cap. vers 9. A People which haue come out of darknesse into light 1 Pet. 2. cap. vers 9. The Heritage of God Esay cap. 19. Of this Cittie it is saide I will make an euerlasting couenant with you euen the sure mercies of Dauiâ—d my faith seruant Esay 60. The Nation and Kingdome which wil not serue thee shal perish from the earth Esay 60. I will giue my lawe in their inwarde partes and write it in their heartes and I will be their God and they shall be my people Ieremy 31. verse 33. And they shall all knowe me from the least to the greatest and I wil forgiue their iniquity and remember their sinnes no more verse 34. But to knowe GOD is eternall life Iohn 17. The Lord buildeth SION Psal 102 vers 16. In SION is the Lords name declared and his praise in Ierusalem ibidem vers 21. The blessed of my Father Math. 25. For whom the kingdome of God is prepared from the beginning of the world vers 34. The ChlldreÌ„ of God Hosea 1. Iohn 1 Galat 3. phil 2. The Heires nf Christ and Co-heires with Christ Rom. 8. The fellow-Citizens with the Saints The housholde seruants of God Ephes 2 vers 19. The Vessels of glorie Rom 9. vers 23. As Lights shining in the world 2 phi verse 25. Iuda and Israell Hosea 1. Rom. 2. and 9. Which names are full of misteries The Children of promise Gallat 3. vers 29. 4. and 28. The Children of SARA the free woman Gal. 4 vers 31. The Church builded vpon the Rock against which the Gates of Hell shall not preuaile Math. 16. ver 18. Called Christians as of the Lord Christ Act. 11. vers 26. The seed of Abraham Gal 3. vers 29. The kingdome euerlasting of the Messias Abdias cap. 1. ver 21. 2. Pet. 1. The brethren of Christ Psal ar The holy ones Rom. 1. The new man Ephes 2. New Creature in Christ Gal. 6. A Garland of glory shalt thou be in the hande of the Lord and a royal Diadem in the handes of thy God Esa 62. vers 3. And thou shalt be called Hiphzibah that is My delight is in thee vers 4. Of her it is said by the Prophet Esay cap 54 Feare not for thou shalt not be a shamed neither shalt thou be confounded vers 4. For a momeÌ„t in mine anger I hid my face from thee for a little season but with euerlasting mercie haue I had compassion on thee saith the Lorde thy Redeemer vers 8. My mercy shall not depart from thee neither shall the couenant of my peace fall away saith the Lord that hath compassion on thee vers 10. Of her againe Esay 60. I will make thee an eternall glorie and a â—â—y from Generation to Generation vers 15. Thou shalt call Saluation thy Wa les and Praise thy Gates vers 18. The Lord shal be thine euerlasting light vers 20. Iuda shall be saued and Israell shall dwell safely Ieremy 23. vers 6. And in Esay againe cap 49. Though a woman for get her Childe yet will not I forget thee O SION vers 15. Beholde I haue graueÌ„ thee vpon the palm of mine hands thy walles are euer in my sight vers 16. Briefly out of Sion was the true Messias and Sauiour of Israel looked for as Dauid singeth in the 14. Psal Who shal giue saluation out of SION vnto Israell vers 7. And S. PAVLE saieth Rom. 11. Out of SION shall hee come which shall deliuer c. vers 29. And GOD by his seruants the Prophets Apostles throughout al y â— Scriptures hath spoken glorious thinges in figures and euident promises For shee hath Promises of this present life and of the life to come 1. Tim 4. After this maner hath the gréeke text as in Latine de te of thée But the true meaniâ—â— of y e Hebrue hath in te in thée this preiudiceth nothing to vs for both are true Those excellent things which I haue made mencion off are spoken of the Church by the Prophets and Apostles and in the Church For what other thing are they but sacred holy misteries of the Gospell touching euerlasting life saluation which surely are dailie preached and sounded foorth both of the Church and in the Church that by hearing of so great matters faith might come vnto vs and by Faith Justification and Saluation The Hebrue text addeth Selah which S. Ierome translateth Semper alwaies For the Church as a Bride glorious in her Husband shal euermore be preached off glorious things shal be spoken of her and in her shall be continually sung the ineffable glorie of the euerlasting grace of God in Christ our Lord. And so the Iewes for the most parte interpret the word Selah for euerlasting like as it is euident in their Epitaphes as the Iewish Epitaph is in Hebrue at Basill His soule continue in Paradice Amen Amen Amen For euer and euer For it is vnderstood by that verse in the 84. Psalme They shall praise thee for euer and euer And so likewise by Thargus the Hebrue writer vpon this 87. Psalme Rabbi Aben Ezra expoundeth it for trueth or truelie Dauid Kimhi writeth that it is a token of lifting vp the voice in this Psalme from the roote to lift vp So as indéed by this persuasion the cogitacioÌ„ of y e mind is moued ernestly to way coÌ„sider a great matter for in this place it is a worthy little verse to the meditation wherof all the powers of the minde may be profouÌ„dly and earnestly moued For our matter is now in making wee are that Church the excellent Cittie of God coÌ„cerning which so glorious things are spoked off Al which things are promised and surelye giuen vs from God in Christ For so greate and vnspaakeable are they that the Prophet Esay and the Apostle Paule write of these That for them which loue God such thinges are prepared which neither eie hath seene nor eare hath hard neither yet the heart of man conceiued Esa 64. 1 Cor. 2. Now let vs
the dwelling place of them which reioice but a lothsome prison of sorrowfull and afflicted persons Therefore the blessings of that spirituall habitation do excéede all vnderstandings and are not perceiued with fleshly eyes And the vngodly ones in this worlde acâ— not worthy to sée no not euen the least citizeÌ„ of this holy City adoâ—â—â—â—â—â—â—â—â—â—â—â— her true blessinges which wée haue in Christ The Worlde séeth the outwarde man which is corrupted but hée séeth not the heauenly Ierusalem with her citizens borne a newe of the Spirite The rich glutton in Luke 16. seeth Lazarus a begger full of sores and famished with hunger at his gate but I pray you what carnall eye sight yea what humane reason woulde knowe so wretched and abiect a person in outward shewe to be the beloued childe of God to raigne w t Christ and whom the verye Angelicall Spirits did attende vppon with such figures of calamity lye Christians couered in this worlde The Apostles those most excellent and noble Princes in Christes kingdome how afflicted were they in the kingdome of this worlde They séemed outwardly the vylest persons of all men they were buffited w t blowes they wandered vncertaine coasts they were railed on became as the most lothsome things of the worlde Where I pray you were then the eyes which could perceiue such so great compéeres of the heauenly kingdome finally how vnknown was Christ 〈…〉 vnto the children of this world in y â— Synagogue of his people For as it is saide by Peter if carnall eyes could haue seene and known the Lord of glorie the Iewes would not haue crucified him And in the 32. Psal he telleth vs what maner of person he was reputed in the worlde I am a worme saith hee and no man a reproch of men and the outcast of the people all they which see mee haue laughed mee to scorne vers 6. This one thing therfore let vs be care full of That we may still continue in the Citie of God euen by faith in Christ let vs redily embrace affliction as the companion of the Gospel and for the name of Christ as the heauenly watchword and badge of his kingdome let vs not estéeme or passe any thing what blinde iudgements of this worlde are giuen vpon vs but let the determination of y e holy Ghost touching vs in this Psalme be onely set before our eyes videliz The Lorde loueth the gates of SION what shal the most pestilent enuie of the enimies then hurt vs which cryeth that wee are gone backe from God and from his Church The Lorde himselfe 〈…〉 wherein wee are although then in the sight of the Children of this worlde shee séeme outwardly vile and a dongeon yet is she an excellent and impregnable city The Aduersaries reproch vs w t errors but heare they that acknowledge Christ doe wel vnderstand that all fountaines of Gods graces do flow in this City of God Therefore euen then also doth the sounde doctrine of Christ a right and true faith yea good workes indeede and studie after godlines here hence flowe forth likewise yet doubtles faith is far more lukewarm in vs theÌ„ is expedient But we must pray vnto the Lord that instantly that what he hath mercifully begun in vs he would make perfit the same That we séeme not to haue receiued in vain so great grace of God in our Sion and that the most glorious name of Christ be not for our sakes blasphemed According to Peters admonition therfore Let vs abstaine from fleshly lusts which striue against the Soule and as straungers and Pilgrims in this world whose glory passeth away let vs séeke w t earnest desire after a future and permanent City Wherein as S. Iohn saith There shalbe no more death nor mourning nor crying nor sorow but God shal wipe away in her all teares from the eyes of his true beleeuers Apoc. 21. vers 4. Let the Children of this worlde take their delightes in earthly Cities and fill their mindes with pleasures which shall soone haue an ende for they shalbe consumed from of y â— earth which now they vniustly occupie and enioy Let vs whom God hath called to the rich glory of heauenly inheritance seeke for things which are aboue Where Christ our king and high Prieste sitteth at the right hande of God Which the same King of glory vouchsafe to accomplish performe For into this City concerning which so glorious things are spoken except we beere in this life do enter by Faith we shal not possesse the same in Deede when this world shall haue an end which without doubt shall not long endure FINIS Vrbanus Regius Psal 135. Praised be the Lorde out of SION which dwelleth in Ierusalem Praise ye the Lord. vers 6. R. R. â—â—es 2. â—a 2. heb 9 â—ay 49. â—â—at 3. â—eb 13. â—â—â— mundi 〈◊〉 Anno MuÌ„di 2000. Anno mundi â—â—oo Regni Asa 10 anno Christi 1. Anno muâ— di 3970. Anno Christi 1004 Mundi 5004. â—om 16. â—â—â—el 5. Tomâ— 2. opâ— rum suoruÌ„ interpretantâ— Psalmoâ— â— certain sect which beleeued that Christ should raign 2â—000 yeares onely Chiliastae in â—gipto exorti anno mundi 261. Anabaptistâ— in Germania anno Christi â—534 The shadowâ— of the Lawe without saith cannot be vnderstoodâ— â—at 21. Mark 11. â—â—ke 19. â—ohn 12. â—say 2. Micheas 4 Ephes 2. The foundation of the Holy Cittie By Christ we are nombreâ— amoÌ„st the Citizens of thâ— heauenly Ierusalem Augustin ' iâ— psal 91. Dauid 2 Gallat 20. verse What maneâ— Citizens they of the heauenly leruseleÌ„ be In worldlye or humane thing nothing perpetually firme The holy Citty hath all things perpetual firm and â—ure in the Hilles Abdias Cap. 1 Carass Hilles of holines Christ is the foundation of the church Ephes 2 verse 20. 21. 22. Why the Citty is called holy 1 Cor. 6. vers 11. We are beloued of God for Christs sake â—erusaleÌ„ was â—rdained for â—euine seruice God though he be euerie wher by power eslence yet he is by grace present with the 〈…〉 〈…〉 Christians are called the City of God Her ExcelleÌ„t Members The glorious Titles of the holy Church The fauor of God towards his Church The Messias promised â—â—â— of SION â—ar Selah Ama. Salal The Riches of the church In what pointes the Church of Christ is glorious The Church of God is railed on by the vngodly ones Christians bearing the blame of all euill happes Christianos ad Leonem Notâ— Cay Mitsarri Raab Phelesser The Gospell pertaineth vn to al nations The notable negligence of the Popish Prelates for spirituall matters in this Authors time Without the Church of Christe is no saluation The Sonnes of Adam We are regenerate by thâ— Gospell and Sataments The kingdome of Christ is spirituall God is the master builder of the Church The Church of God is beutified by Christ The beginning of our iustification is of God and not of our selues Freewill iâ— nothing in the câ—sâ— of Iustification 1. Cor. 1. vers Iohn 6. New and old Pelagians confounded The opinion of â—choole Doctors in meriting 〈…〉 Their opinion of meriting ex Condigno So is that booke of the master of the Sentences called What it is to builde the Church of God vppon â—u nane erâ—â—â—â— Psal 115. vers 1. The Church of Christ is eternall Actes â— Through faith in Christ we are enrolled in the Booke of life Whom God is said to knowe The profiâ—â— we haue of our Baptisâ— Tit. vers 4. 6. 7. Pet 3. â—ers 21. 22. How other ioyes do begin in the Spirit The spirite oâ— God imparteth his gifts most â—ichlie vnto his Church Psal 76. ver 1. Psal 68. 〈◊〉 10. ver 25 True ioy is in the Church alone The righteousnesse of Christ pertaineth not onlâ— vnto the Iew but also to the Gentile Psal 2. Psal 17. he Church neither at Seuen-hilled 〈…〉 nor yet a 〈…〉 Moâ—â—rchy Titus cap. 2. Ioh. 16. ver 33 Christians lie couered with figures of calamitie Psal 22. ver â— 1. Pet. 2. ver 11. The Authors comfortable Conclusion to the elect of God Epheâ— ver 1â— Colos 3. ver 1â—
not earthly thinges Colos 3. Whoe also â—ay with S. Paul Now liue I not but Christ liueth in me The world is to me crucified through Christ and so am I to the world Galat. 6 Therefore this same Citizen of the heauenly Ierusalem meditating many things with himselfe of the blessed Citty of the holy ones being full of the holye Ghoste bursteth out into the wordes of this Psalme which Psalme is a continuall testimony of the godly cogitations of that man concerning the Article of the faith I beleeue the holy Catholike Church the Communion of Saintes For what thing we loue from our hart of this we thinke continually and wee kéepe it not in secret but we afâ—ewards spare no speach euen vnto the full publishing thereof according to that saying Out of the aboundance of the heart the mouth speaketh Math. 12. vers 34. Dauid therefore saith Her foundations vnderstand of the Citty which I loue with most earnest minde wherein but vnknowne to me I am yet made safe or preserued by hope wherein for euer the Sauiour of the world so vouchsafeing I shall still remaine are in the hill of Holinesse for so saith the Iewe we shoulde say in the holy Hilles Citties of this mortall life bee they fenced or defended with how strong so euer muniments or Bulwarkes are yet not withstanding builded vpon the sand For whatsoeuer mans hand buildeth the same can it also cast downe Therefore Citizens of earthly Citties cannot dwell in sufficient safetie all their Ritches yea life and finally whatsoeuer they haue are laid open to their enemies Wherefore we rightly then say that no earthly Cittie hath her foundation in the Hilles For although no enemies assault the same yet time is the consumer of thinges and corruption at length wasteth those thinges which haue bene in this world most strong but the foundations of this Cittie are sound firme and perpetuall because they are in the Hilles What then are not earthly Citties also in the hilles is the Citty safe which is scituate on the hilles Why then saith the Lord by his Prophet Abdias To the Hilles of Seyr and the dwellers thereon The pride of thy heart puffed thee vp because thon dwelst in the clefts of the Rockes whose habitation is hie thoâ— sayest in thine hart who shall bring me vnto the ground The Lord maketh answere to the bragging of the Edomites If thou exalt thy selfe as the Eagle and make thy nest among the starres thence will I bring thee downe saith the Lord And surelye though Ierusalem were in the olde time builded in the mount Sion and the little hilles yet notwithstanding it was easie to be assaulted and beaten downe of their enemies the Chaldeans and the Romans All earthly buildings be they neuer so strong and stablished in the hilles and Rockes are yet builded vpon the sand Because they shal in time fal to y â— grouÌ„d and perish Wherefore the Prophet here speaketh of other hilles as the Hebrue â—oun declareth which signifieth holines Therefore those foundations are in the hilles of holinesse that is not in earthlie hils but in the Heauens For y â— fouÌ„datioÌ„ which this citty hath Is that immouable Rocke Mat. 16. whereupon the Church is builded and standes to the vtmost against the gates of hell Whereof the Apostle mentioneth No man can lay any other foundation then that which is laid euen Christ Iesus 1 Cor 3. Wherfore the Apostle when he speaketh of that blessed Cittie sheweth openly this foundation and saieth Those Cittizens that is Chistians are builded vpon that foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Christ Iesus himselfe being the Head corner stone in whom what building soeuer is coupled together groweth vnto à n holy Temple in the Lord In whome ye also are built together to be the Habitation of God by the Spirite The Cittie is holye firme and eternal it hath Cittizens eueÌ„ the holy ones as the Apostle euery where calleth them For although they be sinners born yet in that Cittie they are regenerate of water of the spirite yea They are iustified by faith and sanctified by the name of Iesus and by the spirite of our God And all things which are without this Cittie are prophane and abhominable before God In this Cittie onely is true holinesse as the Phophete Abdias saieth vers 17 But vpon mount Sion shall bee delierance and it shall bee holye And the Prophete Esay declareth Cap. 4 Then hee that shall bee left in SION â—nd hee that shall be lefte in Ierusalem shall be called holie and euerie one shall bee written among the liuing in Ierusalem when the LORD shall wash the filthinesse of the daughters of Sion verses 3. 4. The Lordeloueth the Gates of Sion c. Pars. 2 THis latter parte of the first verse sheweth how fatherly the Lord loueth vs for Christs sake the foundation of this Cittie vpon whome we are builded as a spirituall house The Lord saieth he loueth the Gates of Sion that is the Church of Christe For we are beloued of God for his sons sake Through whom we haue obtained reconciliation when as before we were not yet reconciled through the death of his sonne we were the enemies of God Ephes 1. Rom. 5. And he loueth vs aboue all the Tabernacles of IACOB So much as to the figure or outward shewe pertaineth wee know out of the Law of Moises howe the Gates of the earthlyâ— SION or the Cittie Ierusalem was so ordained for the worshipping of GOD in the olde age That it should not bee lawfull for any to offer sacrfice but with in the sanctuary of the Cittie Deut. 12. 2. Par. 6. Wherfore although there were many Sinagogues in Canaan and many places wherevnto the people resorted by companies yet not withstanding Ierusalem alone had the Temple and Pallace royall of Dauid and was called the holy Cittie as the Prophet Esay sheweth cap 52. Put on thy Garments of beautie O Ierusalem thou holie Cittie for henceforth there shal no more come into thee the vncircumcised and the vnclean ver 1 And in his 26. Cap. he saieth The Cittizens of that Cittie are called an holye people redeemed of the Lord. verse 12. And this Prophet Dauid in his 78. Psal singeth The LORD hath chosen the tribe of IVDA the hill of SION whom he loued vers 69. Al those things which are spoken of the earthlye Ierusalem in figure are to be referred vnto Christs Catholike Church which spirituall Cittie the Lord loueth aboue al the dwelling places of Iacob which long â—goe wer shadowes and figurers things temporall by which notwithstanding the heauenly Cittie of Christians euer during was here shadowed verse 2 Verye excellent thinges are spoken of thee thou Cittie of God alwaies IF we learne this verse aright we shal moreouer recite y â— Article of the Catholike Church in the Simbole of our Créede daily not vainely and without faith For the Church is