the kingdome of God then it is in this world We beinge in this corruptible bodye know one another whan we see not God but with the eies of our faith shall we not know one another after that we haue put of this sinfull body and se God facâ— to face in the sight of whom is the knowledge of al things We shall be lyke the glorious Aungels of heaueÌ„ whiche know one another can it than come to passe that one of vs may not knowe an other Shal we be equal with y e angels in other thinges inferiour vnto them in knowing one an other We shal know and se Christ as he is whiche is the wysdome image and brightnes of the heauenly father and shall the knowledge of one another be hyd from vs We are members all of one body and shall we not knowe one another we know our head which is christ shall we not knowe our selues we shalbe citezins of one heauenly city wher continuall light shall be and shall we be ouerwhelmed with suche darkenes that we shal not see and know one another They that in this worlde be synging men continuing together in a place but for a season know one an other and shall we which for euer shall continue together synging praysing and magnifying y e Lord our God not know one another They that are in houshold serue one Lorde or maister know one another in this world shall not we know one another which in the kingdome of heauen shall continually serue the Lorde oure God together with one spirit and with one mind There is a certen knowledge one of an other here in the earth euen among the vnreasonable and brute beastes and â—hall our senses be so darkened in the life to come that we being immortall incorruptible and lyke â—nto the angels of God yea seing God face to face shall not knowe â—ne another We shall know God as he is shal we not knowe one another Adam before he synned beyng in the state of innocencie knew Eua so sone as god brought her vnto hym and called her by her name and shall not we being in heauen where we shalbe in aâ— muche more blessed and perfecte state then euer Adam was in Pâ—â—radise knowe one another Shal our knowledge be inferiour to Adams knowledge in Paradiseâ— WheÌ„ Christ was transfigured iâ— mount Thabor his disciples Peâ—ter Iames Iohn did not only know Christ but also Moses and Helias whiche talked there with Christ whome notwithstanding they had neuer seene nor known in y e flesh Wherof we may learneâ— that when we come to behold thâ— glorious maiestie of y e great God we shall not only know our sauâ—our Christ and such as with whâ—â— we wer acquainted in this world but also all the electe and chosen people of God whiche haue bene from the beginning of the world as the holy Apostle saith Ye are come to the mount Sion and to the citie of the liuing God the celestiall Hierusalem and to an innumerable sight of aungels and vnto the congregation of the first borne sonnes which are writteÌ„ in heauen and to God the iudge of all and to the spirites of iust and perfect men and to Iesus the mediatour of the new testament c. When we are once come vnto that heauenly Hierusalem we shal w tout al doubt both se and know Adam Noe AbrahaÌ„ Isaac Iacob Ioseph Moses Samuel Dauid Iosias Ihon Baptist Mary the Mother of Christe Peter Iohn Iames Paule and all the moste blessed coÌ„pany of the Patriarkes prophets apostles martirs with al other the faithful As we are al members of one body wherof Iesus Christ is the head so shall we knowe one another reioyse together be glad one with another Moreouer the history whiche we read of the rich vnmercifull man and of Lazarus declareth euideÌ„tly y t in the lyfe to come we shall know one an other In that we se that the riche glotton beyng in hel did knowe bothe Abraham and Lazarus being in ioye and that Abraham also knew that vnmercifull riche man although the one was in glory the other in pain If that they whiche are in hell doth both se and know them that are in heaueÌ„ and they whiche are in heauen know theÌ„ also that are in hell the one place beyng so far distant from thother muche more do they knowe one another that be Citezins in one City fellowe heirs of one kingdome members of one body and fellowe seruants in one houshold seruing one lorde God If there be mutual knowledge after this life betwene good euil much more shall y e sainctes and the holy ones of God knowe one another in the kyngdome of our heauenly father Our sauiour Christ said to his disciples when the sonne of man shall sitte in the seat of his maiestie you also shall sit vpon the .xii. seates iudging the .xii. tribes of Israell If after the generall resurrection â–ª and at the iudgemente one shoulde not know another how shal theÌ„ the apostles iudge theÌ„ vnto whom thei preached They can not iudge nor be witnesses of the condemnation of them whome they knowe not Hereof also it manifestlye appeareth that after this life one of vs shal know another After y e Christ was risen again had a glorified body thapostles knew him yea that so perfectly y t none of theÌ„ neded to saye vnto hym what art y â— For they knew well y t he was the Lord. Hereof also may it truely be gathered y t the faithfull shall as perfectly knowe one an other in y e life to come as the apostles knew Christ after his resurrectioÌ„ â–ª or as Peter IhoÌ„ Iames knew Moses Helias in the mouÌ„t Thaboâ— wheÌ„ Christ was traÌ„sfigured Many other thinges might be alledged out of the holy scripture to declare y t we shall know one another after this life but these for this present may seme to any indifferent person aboundantly to suffice If I shuld reherse to you all the sayings both of thancient late writers concerning this matter I shuld speÌ„d a great part of this day to much tâ—ouble you notw tstanding I will reherse one saying of s. Gregory in his Dialoges bid al the other farwel There is a certain thing saith he in gods elect chosen people which is to be marueled at for they being in heaueÌ„ do not only know theÌ„ whom they knew in this world but thei know also the good people whoÌ„ thei neuer sawe euen as perfectlye as though they had afore both sene known theÌ„ For wheÌ„ thei in y t euer lasting enheritance shall se thancient fathers they shal not be vnknowne to theÌ„ in sight whoÌ„ they always knew in work For when al there w t one clearnes do behold God what is it that they shoulde not ther know where they know him that knowe all thinges Epa.
of God and the paine of death shall not touch them In y e sight of the vnwyse they appeare to die but they are in peace Let vs not therfore fear death To the infidele and vnfaithful maÌ„ death is both fearefull and terrible but to a faithfull man it is bothe pleasaunte and amiable Therefore neighbour Epaphroditus as you haue hitherto in all your wordes shewed your selfe a faithful man and wel contented to obey the wil of God so likewise practise y e same now in your workes If the good pleasure of God be through this sicknes to cal you out of this valâ— of misery stryue not against the wil of God but submit your selfe to Gods holy working dout nothing but it shalbe to your great commoditie and singulare profit For all thinges worke for the best vnto them y t loue God God hath appoynted the boundes of your lyfe and beyond that ye can not go When the twelfth houre commeth then shall ye make an ende Labour therfore to make suche an end as God therwith may be pleaâ—sed seing you know and are fully perswaded y t not an here doth falâ— from your head without the good wil of god much les shal your life be taken away froÌ„ you til the very hour coÌ„meth which God hath appoynted in whose handes only are the keyes bothe of lyfe and death Epa. Death is terrible and fearfull Ph. The wyse man saith O death how bitter is the remembraunce of thee to a man that seketh rest and comfort in his substaunce and riches vnto the man that hath nothing to vexe him y t hath prosperitie in all thinges yea vnto him that setteth all his mynde on belly cheare O death how acceptable and good is thy iudgement vnto the nedefull and vnto him whose strength faileth and that is nowe in his last age c. Be not thou afraide of death remember them that haue ben before thee that come after thee This is the iudgemeÌ„t of the Lord â—uer al flesh And why wouldest y t be against this pleasure of the hiest c. To the vnfaithful death in dede is terrible and fearfull For then begin their sorowes and miseries their plages and torments as we may se in the historie of the richman but to the faithfull and true beleuers death is pleasant amiable as it is written precious in the sight of the Lord is y e death of his sainctes For then cease all their miseries and trauayles and begin their ioyes and pleasures Whosoeuer is a true Christian fixeth y e eies of his minde through true faith on the death of Christe he shall not greatly be afrayde oâ— death but he shall rather triumph ouer death and with a lusty courage saye thus vnto death O death I wil be thy death For death is swalowed vp into victorye through Iesus Christ our Lordeâ— The sting of death can nowe no more hurt the faithfull as our sauiour Christ testifieth verely verely I saye vnto you he that heareth my worde beleueth on hym that sent me hathe euerlastinge life and shall not come into damnation but is scaped from death vnto life Again verely verely I say vnto you he that putteth his trust in me hath euerlasting lyfe I am that liuinge bread whiche came down from heauen If any man eat of this bread he shall liue for euer Item verely verely I say vnto you If a man kepe my saying he shal neuer tast death al so in an other place I am the resurrection life he that beleueth in me although he be dead yet shal he liue And euery one that liueth beleueth in me shall neuer die Epa. Death is painefull Phi. Who will not be content to suffer a little and shorte paine that he may for euer after enioy continuall quietnes and euerlasting rest Nothing is gotten without paine and trauaile No man is crowned except he striue lawfully The afflictions of this life are not worthy of y e glory which shalbe shewed vpon vs. Notwithstanding if we die with Christ we shall also lyue with hym If we suffer we shall reigne with him Therefore be on good comfort God is faithfull which wil not suffer you to be tempted aboue that you are able to beare The Lord our God is a father of mercies and God of all consolation whiche will without all doubt be present with you and comfort you in all your sicknesses and paines For as the afflictions of Christ are plenteous in vs eueÌ„ so is our consolation plenteous by Christ. As you are partaker of the afflictions so shall ye be partaker also of the consolation For this short and lyght trouble sicknes and pain prepareth an exceading an eternal waight of glory vnto you whyle you loke not on the thinges whiche are sene but on y e thinges whiche are not sene For y e thinges which are not sene are eternall If you consider the great intollerable paines that many good and godly men haue suffred on their bodies for Christes sake it shal the les greue you to beare this your sicknes yea death and the paines thereof The Prophet Esaye for the hope of euerlasting life suffred his body to be cut a sonder with the saw of wood Ieremy was stoned vnto death Amos after many greuous torments was thrust into the temples of the head with a great nail of yron and so shortly after died Iohn Baptist was cast into prisoÌ„ beheaded Iames the brother of Iohn was slaine with the sword Stephen was stoned vnto death Christ our Lord sauour suffred most bitter pains died the death of the crosse I passe ouer many other both of the old newe Testament whiche refused no kinde of pains so that they might obtain y e reward of euerlasting life some as y e blessed apostle saith wer tried w t mockings scourginges w t bonds prisonmeÌ„t some wer stoned some were hewen a sunder some were slaine w t swerd al wer trobled vexed How glad ioyfull ready the holy Apostle S. Paul was to suffer al kinde of paines tormeÌ„tes for y e glory of God these his words do aboundantly shew The holy ghost doth testifie in euery citie saying that bonds and troubles doe abide me but I care not for them nether is my life dere vnto me so that I may finish my course with ioy c. Againe I am ready not only to be bound but al so to die at HierusaleÌ„ for y e name of the Lorde Iesu. What shall I speake of the other blessed Martirs where of some were deuoured with wild beastes some burnt with fire vnto ashes some broyled vnto the death vpon whot coales some slaine with the sweard some hanged vpon Iebbets some pearsed to death with arrowes some beaten to death with stones some boyled some rent a peaces with
dwelling wer destroyâ—ed he meaneth the body we haue a building of God an habitation not made with handes but euerlasting in heauen We shalbe with Christ. We shalbe with the Lorde for euer We shalbe vessels vnto honour We shall haue the crown of righteousnes We shall come to the citie of the liuing God the celestiall Hierusalem and to an innumerable sight of Aungels and to the Congregation of the firste borne sons whiche are written in heauen and to God the iudge of al and to the spirits of iust perfect men and to Iesus the mediatour of the newe testament We shal receiue the crown of life saith S. Iames which the Lord hath promised to theÌ„ y t loue him WheÌ„ Christ y e chief shepherd shall apere saith S. Peter ye shall receiue an incorruptible crowne of glory We are nowe the Sonnes of God saith saint Iohn and it hath not yet appeared what we shall be We knowe that if it once appeare we shalbe like vnto him for we shal se him as he is In the Reuelation of S. Iohn we finde these Sentences concerning the blessed state of the faithfull after this life To him that ouercommeth I wyll geue to eat of the tre of life whiche is in the mids of the Paradise of God Be faithfull vnto the death and I shall geue thee the crowne of life Him that ouercommeth will I make a piller in the temple of my God and he shal go no more out c. To him that ouercoÌ„meth will I graunt to sit with me in my seat The .xxiiii. Elders that sate vpon the seates were clothed in white raiment had on their heades crownes of gold They are in the presence of the seate of God serue him daye and night in his Temple and he that sitteth on the seat will dwell among them They shal hoÌ„ger no mâ—re nether thirst nether shall y e sonne light on them neyther anye heat For the Lambe which is in the mids of the seat shall fede theÌ„ and shall lede theÌ„ vnto fountains of liuing water God shall wine away all teares from their eyes They follow the Lambe whither soeuer he goeth They are without spot before the throne of God I heard a voice from heauen saying vnto me Wryght Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord. Euen so saith the spirite that they reast from their labors but their workes folow them Blessed are they whiche are called vnto the supper of the Lambes mariage I saw a new heauen and a new earth For the first heauen and the first earth were banished awaye â–ª and there was no more sea And I IhoÌ„ saw the holy Citie newe Hierusalem come down from God out of heauen prepared as a bride garnished for her husbande And I heard a great voyce out of heauen saying Behold the tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwel with them And they shalbe his people and God him selfe shall bee with them and be their God And God shall wipe awaye all teares from theyr eyes And there shalbe no more death neither sorow â—â—ther â—â—ying neither shall there be any more paine for thold thinges are gone And he that sat vpon y e seat sayd â–ª Beholde I make all things now â–ª And he sayd vnto me wryte for these wordes are faith full and true And the Angell caried 〈◊〉 way in the spirite â—o a great 〈◊〉 hie mountaine and he â—â—e wedâ—â—e the great Citie holyâ— Hierusaâ—â—â— descendinge out of heauen 〈◊〉 God hauing y â— brightnes of God And her shining waâ— lyke vnto 〈◊〉 stone most precious eueÌ„ like a Iasper clere as Christall had wals great hie had xii gates at the gates .xii. angels and names written whiche are the names of the .xii. Tribes of Israell On the â—ast side .iii. gates and on y e north side .iii. gates and towardes the south .iii. gates from the weast iii. gates and the wal of the Citie had .xii. foundations in theÌ„ the xii names of the LaÌ„bes .xii. Apostles he that talked with me had a goâ—den rede to measure the citie withal the gates therof and the wall therof And y e citie was built iiii â–ª square and the length was as large as the bredth he measured the citie with the golden rede .xii M. furlonges the length and y e bredth the height of it were equall And he measured the wall therof an C. xliiii the measure y t the angel had was after the measure that maÌ„ vseth And the building of the wall of it was of Iasper And the citie was pure gold like vnto cleare glasse the foundations of the wal of the city wer garnished with al maner of precious stones â–ª The first foundation was a Iasper the seconde a Saphir the third a Calcedony y e .iiii. an Emerald the .v. a Sardonix the .vi. a Sardius the .vii. a Chrisolite the .viii. a Berall the .ix. a Topas the .x. a Crusoprases the xi a Iacint the .xii. an Amathist The .xii. gates were .xii. pearles euery gate was of one pearle and the streate of the Citie was pure gold as through shining glasse And I sawe no temple therin For the Lord God almighty and the Lambe are the temple of it And the citie hath no nede of the sunne nether of the moone to lighten it For y e brightnes of God did light 〈◊〉 and the Lambe was the light of it And the people which are saâ—ed shall walke in the light of it And the kinges of the earth shall bringe their glory and honoure vnto it And y e gates of it are not shut by daye For there shalbe no night there And there shall enter into it none vncleane thing neyther whatsoeuer worketh abhomination or maketh lies but they only whiche are wrytten in the Lambes booke of life And he shewed me a pure riuer of water of life clere as Christall proceading out of the seat of God and of the Lambe In the mids of the streat of it and of ether syde of the riuer was there wood of life whiche bare .xii. maner of fruites and gaue fruit euery moneth and the leaues of the wood serued to heale the people withall And ther shalbe no more cursse but the seat of God and the Lambe shalbe iâ— it and his seruauntes shall seruâ— him And they shal se his face and his name shalbe in their foreheds â–ª And there shalbe no night therâ—â— and they nede no candle â— neytheâ— lyght of the Sunne for the Lordâ— God geueth them lyght and they shall raigne for euermore And he sayde vnto me these thinges are faithfull and true Epâ— God be praised for that true ioye and singuler comfort which the faithfull finde in his holy worde It is not without a cause sayd of the holy Apostle The eie hath not sens and the eare hath not heard neither haue entred into the heart