Christ may be reckoned amongst the people of GOD that is the Church of Christ Our Scholemaister D. Martin Luther that he might also open the misterâ—â— of the calling of the Gentiles in this place vnto the â—ares of y â— Germanes doth thâ—â— translate it Ich will predigen lassen Rahab vnd Babell das sie mich kennen solleÌ„ that is to say I will let prâ—â—ch Rahab Babilon that they may knowe me And this rightlie and perspicuously so he doth For that this is the rule of a good Interpreter S. Ierome writing vnto Summa and Fretela teacheth vs That he might expresse the phrase of an other language in the proprietie of his owne tongue which thing also amoÌ„gst y â— ancieÌ„ts y â— be slearned writers haue done as Tully in Protagora Platonis in Oeconomiâ—o Xenophontis in Demosthenes his oration against Aeschines many others In which place heare that folly bragging of the outragions Sinagogue is beaten backe wheras it crieth Abraham is our father we are the heritage of GOD the Gentiles are accursed Iohn 8 vers 39. For it is a cleare and euident Testimonie of the calling of the Gentiles out of the whole world to the Gospel of Christ For by the calling of the aforesaide Nations in this place are all other Nations also to be vnderstood wheresoeuer they be thronghout the worlde And like as the Prophets do prophesiâ— of the grace of Christ to be imparted vnto the Nations that the kingdome of Christ may be Catholike or vniuersall Therefore not onely shall God remember the posteritie of ABRAHAM after the flesh but also the Gentiles in the whole worlde out of whome by faith he maketh the sonnes of Abraham that if not in consanguinitye yet in the same Faith they may resemble their true beleeuing father Abraham Therefore doeth the Apostle call Abraham the Father of all the faithfull by Circumsision that vnto them also Righteousnesse might bee imputed euen as vnto him beleeuing the promise concerning Christ Faith is imputed vnto righteousnesse Rom. 4. 16. vers 9. 7. Gal. 3. vers 7. 22. The Lawe worketh nothing theare nor the generation as touching the flesh For the promise happened not vnto Abraham by the Lawe nor to his seede That hee should be the heire of the worlde but by righteousnesse of faith Like as in 3. cap. Gal. vers 7. he saith They which are of faith are the Children of Abraham Wee vnderstande here that the flesh hathe no prerogatiue in respecte of iustification but faith in Christe Wherefore wee which were taken from among the Gentiles and which as the same Apostle saieth were once farre off are now made neere by the blood of Christe Ephes 2. vers 13. Who from out both Iewes and Gentiles hath made one and hath broken the stoppe of the partition wall vers 14. Nowe wee both through him haue an Enterance vnto the Father of mercies by one spirite vers 18. This doth the promise of God in this Psalme I will thinke vpon Rahab and Babilon c. that is to say I will call and take vnto me Children from out of al the Nations in the world and not out of Canaan onely which surely ought to be reckoned by good right amongst the glorious thinges which are spoken off touching the Churche of Christ For the Apostle also in the third chapiter to the Ephesians fearmeth the calling of the Gentiles into the Church or Congregation of ISRAEL a Misterye which was not alwayes knowen vnto the Sonnes of men but is reueyled vnto the Holye ones the Apostles of Christ and his Prophets by his holy spirite namely that the Gentiles are fellow-heires with the Iewes members of one body and Coo-partners of the promise of life in Christ And the Prophet Dauid here addeth in the ende of this verse Loe there is hee borne that is to say the people of the nations before remembred Where are they borne I answere wheras hee reconeth vp by the name of those Nations it is certaine that he speaketh of them which are now borne but he affirmeth the misterie of regeneration To be by water the Sperite as in Iohn 3. And he teacheth also that those Nations borne anew theare that is within the gates of SION in the citie of God haue giuen their name vnto Christ forsaking their Idols and are to be conuerted from darknesse vnto light and from the power of Satan vnto the true and liuing God that they may also receiue forgiuenesse of Sinnes and inheritance amongst them which are sanctified by faith in Christ Vers 5 And of SION it shal be reported that manie are borne in her And hee euen the most high shal stablish her IN this place the translation as S. Hierome sayeth to Summa and Fretela according to the places times and pleasures of olde writers differeth froÌ„ the Hebrue veritie For that saith Vnto SION it shall be reported many are borne in her But the Greeke translation hath it thus The Mother Sion shall say many persons are borne in her Finallie the west church hath now for a long time read Shal Sion say many are borne c In which place not without cause do we detest the negligence of the Prelates of the Church in whose power at this day consisteth the chéefe regarde of thinges who do surmount the Princes of the Empire both in wealth and reuenues much more are equal vnto them and yet in so many ages not euen one hath bene sound who at the charge of the Church goodes hath reformed the exemplars of the Byble or at least wise the Psalter within all the Churches is song nightes and daies such faithfull Stewardes of God are they for sooth But let vs suffer them to fill vp the measure of their Fathers indeede the Pharises whoe euen themselues with like periurye gouerned their Sinagogue in time past so long that whiles they woulde not repent them they vtterly perished from the face of the earth Firste wee will showe foorth what meaninges the Hebrue Text hath Of SION it shall bee reported that is of the Church of Christe it shall bee preached Manye are borne in her That is euerye one that is regenerate by the Spirite is borne in that SION For in the Church are the worde of life and the Sacramentes of our saluation Wherefore they which remaine out of the Church are the Children of wrath the Children of olde ADAM yea carnall Children dead in sinnes and subiect vnto eternall damnation But they which in SION addresse or reedifye the Cittye of GOD doe finde the Gospell of Saluation and the Sacramentes by the whiche they are borne anewe and are made the Children of grace the Sonnes of GOD and new men are raised vppe from the Death of Sinne and made Spirituall heires of eternall life The Hebrue Phrase is Vir Vir Homo Homo for the worde Vnusquisque Luther whome the Spirite of Christe taught by moste grieuous tribulations not onely to singe with
THE Solace of SION and Joy of IERVSALEM Or Consolation of Gods Church in the latter age redeemed by the preaching of the Gospell vniuersallye Beeing a godly and learned exposition of the Lxxxvij Psalme of the Princelye Prophet DAVID Written in Latine by the reuerend Doctor VRBANVS REGIVS Pastor of Christes Church at Zelle in Saxonie 1536. Translated into english by R. Robinson Citizen of London 1587. Ioel 2. vers 32. But whosoeuer shall call vpon the name of the Lord shall be saued For in Mount SION and in Ierusalem shall be deliuerance as the Lorde hath said and in the remnant whome the Lord shall call Psal 45. â—egina à dextris â—â—i c vers 9. Psal 113. Qui facit mulierem orbaÌ„ habitare cum familia sua matreÌ„que filiorum laetam fore vers 9. â—ex concupiscet â—ecorem tuum â— vers 11. Qui Structor Ecclesiae suae est Angul â—risque Lapis Rex SION Salem Leo Iudae Flosque Iessae Nutritiosque creat Reges Nutricesque Reginas Ecclesiae suae protegat inquam CHRISTVS Reginam ELIZABETH Scuta Regalia sua Liberae vt SARAâ— filij multi fiant Donec nos in SION Dei Ciuitateque Viui SALEM sic Caelesti coagaudeaâ—nus omnes CIVITAS LONDON Ps 101. AnnuÌ„cictur in Sion nomen Domini laus eiê° in Ierusalem vers 26. Ex omnibus Ciuitatibus edificatis O Deus sanâ—… To the Right Honorable Sir George Barne Knight Lord Maior of the City of London to the Right worshipful his Brethren the Aldermen of the same Grace Mercy Peace and plenitude of Temporal and eternal Beatitude in Christ Iesus our Lorde and Sauiour Euerlasting KNOVVLEDGE of GOD by his holy wil word works omnipotent conceiued Faith in his heauenly prouidence presence and promises al sufficient perceiued and obedient thankfulnesse for his inestimable bounty benefits blessing permanent receiued Right Honorable Worshipfull and Reuerend in the Lord as they are three most excellent plants of deuine vertue of whose fruite if our first Parents in Paradise had taken tasted and disgested aright as they did of a contrarie not onely their solace there had beene without Sorrowe their ioy without anoy and their life without death to the inspeakable solace and infinite ioy of the eternall GOD their Creator But also both they and all their posteritie had beene freed from the thraldome of Sathan sinne Death and Hell from time to time euen for euer For thereby in steede of knowledge wilful boldnes for want of faith incredulytie and for obediâ—… iâ—â—o paine prosperity into aduersitie health into sicknes life into death and blessings into cursings Albeit the same our omnipotent Creator mercifull Redeemer gratious sanctifier according to his holy will word and work by his heauenly prouidence presence and promises by hiâ— bountie benefites and blessings afterwardeâ— finding better fruites of knowledge repentance faith and obedience in theÌ„ comforted and confirmed both the same our first sinfull parentes their seede after them videlizeâ— SETH ENOS KAINAN MALALIEL â—ARED ENOCH with long and happie daies vpon earth Of which seauen ENOCH especially euen aliue the rest of the fathers beholding the same was from thence translated into heauen not onely for a repentance vnto the nations in this life but also to signify the immortalitie of the bodies soules of the Lordâ— elect after this life euerlastingly And hereupon the best approued Interpreters and writers gather that as the Lord in sixe daies created the world â—ested the seauenth day so the same shoulde endure six thousand yeares the seuenth thousand shold be the Sabath of eternal rest and as the first sixe Fathers from ADAM to ENOCH died by course of nature and the seauenth was translated aliue into Heauen so during the first 6000. yeares death should raiâ—â—â—n the world but in the 7000 should begin thâ—â—â—â—â—â—ednesse of life in the world euerlasting Here then consequeâ—â—â— after ENOCH we now for our time haue great cause of consolation To remember how yet in the first age God calling NOAH a rest or ceasing with his famelye into the Arke and they obediently entring were saued when al the world besides were consumed Gen. 6 And how in the second age of the worde SHâ—â— the renoumed of whome the first Iewes came IAPHETH enlarged of whome the first Gentiles came both the sonnes of the same NOAH should being blessed ioine handes together towards the building of the earthly SION and heauenly IERVSALEM when their brother CAM crafty for his disobedience was accursed Genes 9 And his children the Cananites an idolatrous and wicked people were confounded in their presumtuous building of the earthly BABEL How also the second age expired and in the 23. yeare of the third beginning ABRAHAM the father of a multitude being called by God out of the Citie of HARAN in Mesopotomia into Palestine eueÌ„ there amongst the infidels receiued the promise concerning Christ incarnate of his seed that the world shoulde by him recouer the blessings that it lost through ADAM Genes 12. Which was by the will of God more amply perfourmed in the Lords couenaÌ„t vnto Dauid beloued of the tribe of IVDA the yongest sonne of ISHAY Who from keeping of sheepe being called to be a king ruled in SION and in IERVSALEM with great solace and ioy of his people a Conqueror of their enemies a comforter of their friendes and as a princely deuine 〈…〉 Lords annointed receiued the effectual promise concerning Christâ— incarnate to come of his 〈…〉 and the sure safe stability of his euerlasting kingdome 2 Sam. 7. and though he builded not the Lord a materiall Temple yet hee endeuoured most religiously to aduance Gods glorie in his congregation with de uine seruice and worship according to the holie will of the Lord solemply celebrating the same with heaueÌ„ly harmony of sacred songes and with Psalmes of prayer and praise appointing ASAPH Hâ—MAN IDITHVM and the sonnes of KORACH most skilful Musitions to play vpon and sing to melodious instruments with sweet solace ioy in the Lord. After whom SOLOMON peaceable his sonn succeeding being appointed of the Lord to builde and beautify the Temple for religion wisedome wealth power and prosperitie incomparably florished at the first But in his elder years forgetting God and falling vnto Idolatrie he procured Gods displeasure the hatred of his enemies and decay of his kingdome And in the third age the Lorde thinking vpon his promise made vnto Dauid aforesaid by his prouidence ordained the most godly wise prosperous and victorious kinges of IVDA as Asa Iosaphat Ioathan Ezechias and Iosias and after them Cyrus Darius and Artaxerxes kings of Persia with Zerubbabel Ne hemias Esdias their helpers to build the Lords house destroy all Idolatry bring the people out of Babilonical thraldome and set them forwards in the way of the promised heauenly SION and IerusaleÌ„ In whose daies also the Lord stirred vp his holy Prophets Esay Ieremy Ezechiel Daniell
wâ—ek of the yeares which Daniell declareth Cap 9. vers 27. but imagine themselues another Sauiour or Sacrifice offered I know not whom it is impossible for them to vnderstande the sacred misteries of the Gaspell in the Prophets which are not vnderstoode but by the gouernment and guide of y e spirit of Christ who speaketh in the Prophets And none haue the spirit of Christ but they which beleeue in Iesus Christ Wherefore also in this Psalme as yet still pleasantly dreame they of that same auncient Cittye of Sion in time past ouerthrowne and laide waste by the 〈…〉 â— as Daniell also witnesseth neuer to be restoryd againe But the Church of Christe which hath the holye Ghost and thereby also true vnderstanding of the Scripture knoweth indeede that Ierusalem and Sion was in time past beloued of God For at Ierusalem was the Priesthoode of the Leuites the Sanctuarie propiciatorie a place dedicated for religion or true worshipping of God that same notable treasure of sacred Scriptures the Law and the Prophets wherein is the Gospell of eternall saluation And in Ierusalem was the Kings royall Throane vpon the which should sit that same true King of Israell the Messias which was to be born of the seede of Dauid but all this should come to passe in a certaine other order then other Kinges had their gouernment In this Sion were glorious thinges begun For the same Ruler ouer Israell Iesus Christ came into this Sion and into his holy Temple Malachy 3 Therin preached he the vnsearcheable Riches of his grace Therein beganne he that mighty Kingdome of his by the woorde of his Gospell and by his spirite which was miraculously powred vpon his Apostles in Sion The Law and the Prophets were in that place accomplished For Iesus of Nazareth the sonne of Dauid after the flesh the true Messias came into Sion riding vhon an Asses Colte the true and eternall King of Sion and in the same Cittie celebrated the true feast of Passouer and néer vnto the same offered vppe himselfe to GOD his Father the full accomplishment of all figuratiue sacrifices the sacrifice of true redemption and the verye immaculate Lambe died he at the feast of Easter for the sinnes of all the worlde and all this did he the alone high Prieste who with one onely oblation purchased euerlasting redemption vnto Israell Out of Sion afterwards plentifully issued the Gospell of Gods grace into the worlde by the Apostles And the Primitiue Church which at the firste was but very small in number wente out of Sion and disperst her selfe into the four partes of the world that the Scriptures might be fulfilled Concerning the calling of the Gentiles vnto the grace of the Gospell The Church I say knewe eâ—â—n the earthly Sion to â—ee for a season beloued preserued of God vntill Siloh that is the promised Sauiour came into her and out of her by the remnants of Israll saued should Sion the true Church of Christ come foorth into all the worlde as the mother of all true beléeuers in Christe And shee also knewe euen that same Sion in Canaan to haue ben a figure of the true Sion the Church of God dispearsed throughout the world which is the heauenly Ierusalem As it is also saide by S. Paule 13. Hebr. Ye are come vnto the hil of Sion and to the Cittye of the liuing God the heauenly Ierualem c. Although therefore the Holy Ghoste fore-prophested these things touching the earthly Ierusalem and the earthly Sion as by a Type or Figure yet he intituled this Psalme especiallye of the true Sion the Church of Christ which is to be gathered from among the Iewes and Gentiles also neither had he respect only vnto the earthly Cittie her walles of stone but vnto the spirituall Cittye and her spirituall Scituacions and vnto farre greater matters then the faithlesse Jewes could conceiue of The holye Ghost chieflye recorded this touching The holy Cittie the newe Ierusalem descended from Heauen prepared as a Bride trimmed for her Husbande Apoc. 21. vers 2. And as S. Paul saith in the former Epistle and 11. Cap. Heb. Hauing the foundations of the Cittie whose Builder and maker is not man alone but GOD himselfe made man verse 10 The holy Ghost premeditated this as concerning the true foundation of Sion The liuely stone of men indeed refused but of God chosen and had in reputation Mat 21. He foresignified the liuely stones also builded vpon the approoued corner stone chosen precious and liuely as that spirituall house the Tabernacle and Temple of the liuing God Yea he prefigureth The Mountaine of the house of the Lord prepared in the toppe of the Mountaines exalted aboue the Hilles wherunto the People shal ronne and many nations shal make haste as it were vnto a Fort of refuge to learne the waies of the Lorde and to walke in his pathes Micheas 4. vers 1 and 2. He in whome and for whome God hath promised true and assured benefites vnto his elect is King not of this world or an earthly person but is spirituall heauenly and eternall Wherefore the elect ones of GOD are not to looke after the benefites of this worlde for the which we neither were baptized nor haue beleeued But we must seeke for the assured good things vncorrupt and eternall Undoubtedly Augustine saieth verie godlily writing vpon the 91. Psalme We are not ChristiaÌ„s but for the world to come Let no man hope for the good things in this life let no maÌ„ promise him selfe the prosperity of the world because be is a Christian No Cittie vpon earth which shal soone perish must we look for but the true Cittie whose walle and fouÌ„dation God himselfe is vpon whom all the praiers of the godly ones do rest of whome in the exilement of this life they are continually mindfull as of the true Cuntrey To the possession wherof they refer and wholy bend all the deteminations and deedes of their life For they seeke after true glory honour and blessed immortalitie which they finde not in Citties and transitorie benefites of this Countrey but in the heauenlie Kingdome or Cittie of God Herehence hath this Psalme that same his abroptâ— beginning for it saieth Her foundations when as not withstanding there is not any one word goeth â—efore in the verse concerning the same Cittie Wherfore the Pronoune Relatiue Her is to bee referred vnto the Church of God which hee nowe not as a Guest or inhabitant but as a felow Citizen of the Saintes and housholde Seruants of God by the spirite reueiling sawe with the eyes of Faith and sore sighed after with moste seruent prayers as he which knew that there is no rest peace life nor saluation without the Limittes of this Cittie of God Such cogitations Christians haue whose conuersations are in heauen as Paule saieth Philip. 3. Who when they are risen from the death of sinne seeke for and are carefull after heaueÌ„ly things and
be cast downe at any time but it shal stand firme and mightie through Christ Who is a fierie Wall in the compasse of his new Ierusalem And he that toucheth her toucheth the apple of Christs eye as Zachary saith Cap. 2. vers 5. Hereupon learne we that the building of that Citie is not begotten continued confirmed with any strength of men but with the alone power of God For he hath laid y â— first stone not only frameth in order all the building thereof but also kéepeth preserueth the same Altogether it depeÌ„deth of y â— same God not of vs least any man should boast therof For whiles the vngodly is conuerted vnto Christ hée is builded vpon Christ he is made a liuely stone of that spiritual building but hée is coÌ„uerted by the alone power of Christ whiles Christ sendeth his Gospel giueth harty sorow or repentance faith his holy spirit As without the Spirit of Christ we can do nothing Ioh. 15. And the Apostle Paul openly confesseth in 2. Tim. 2. That the beginning of repentance is not in our power but is giuen from aboue If at any time saith he God giue theÌ„ repentance to know the truth recouer themselues from out of the snare of the deuil wherin they are holdeÌ„ of him at his pleasure ver 26. If God then lay y â— foundation of this cito y â— is if he make theÌ„ of y â— childreÌ„ of wrath y â— childreÌ„ of grace not they theÌ„selues If God draw sinners vnto him fréely iustifie them for Christs â—ake y â— they may be conuerted from their vngodlines beleeue in beleuing may be made fit stones to y â— building of this spiritual Sion If he I say â—ay y â— stones himselfe polish them build stabliâ—h the whole City also I pray you what glory hath free wil â—â— y â— case of Iustification Hath not he which buildeth confirmeth this City all y â— glory whiles y â— holy Ghost beginneth in vs Iustification conserueth the same to the end y â— he which glorifieth should not glory in y â— Law nor in Works nor in Strength but in y â— Lord WheÌ„ as No man can come vnto Christ the corner Stone of that building except the heaueÌ„ly Father do draw him Ioh. 6. And no man can come vnto the Father but by this corner Stone Iesus Christ Ioh. 14 Here are the new old Pelagians confounded and vtterly fal downe which go about to build ground this city by their own works merits passions which blasphemously affirme that Grace is giuen according to our merits most arrogantly cast away the grace of Christ If a man shal aske of these howe they are coÌ„uerted They answere they do y â— which is in their power to do endeuor toward wel doing w t natural streÌ„gth or ability of vnderstanding wil so they merit PrimaÌ„ gratiam de congruo And wheÌ„ fréewil is helped of grace by deede brought forth from freewill and grace they affirme that they deserue euerlasting life de condigno Nowe some men are ashamed of such blasphemous doctrine and deny that they euer taught so to the end they might deceiue simple soules But I appeale vnto the bookes of the Aduersaries I imagine no vntruth Let the schoole Doctors be perused ouer in dist 25 26. 27. 28. of the second touching thcological Sentences you shall there see that same where vpon S. Paul speaketh in the 2. Coloss verse 8. saying They haue spoyled vs through Philosophy vaine deceiuing But truely so to extol the nature of man not yet borne a new through the spirite of Christ what other thing else is this then to desire to builde and grounde the Church by their own powers strengths without Christ the foundation For to builde and ground the Citie of God is no other thing but of vngodly ones to make godly ones to translate sinners from out of the kingdome of sin and death into the kingdome of righteousnes and saluation to pardon sins to implant meÌ„bers of the Church iustified to build vpon the Rocke Christ in the faith of Christ hope of the gospel so to preserue them y t they may not fal away but coÌ„tinue stil in the faith And this work as Augustin strongly proueth in his book de Bono perseuerantiae is the gift of God alone Therefore y â— alone most high buildeth bewtifieth stablisheth preserueth this city as al scriptures do beare witnes Not vnto vs Lord not vnto vs in y e beginning continuance conseruation of iustification but vnto thy name giue the glory We will gladly confesse then that all foundations of saluation which hetherto euil bewitched persons haue deuised by mans wisedome to the end that we should be iustified and saued by them are not onely ruynous but also the verie deuowring gulfe of hell whereinto are ouer whelmed so manie as embrase not Christ the head and foundation so many as by the workes and traditions of men goe about to builde and establish this Citie For they are most pestilent builders such as in times past the Phariseys and Scribes were who when they ought to haue bene builders most vnfaithfully reitcted the corner stone without the which the spiritual building cannot stand at all Learne moreouer that the Church shal stil continue alwayes though infinite offences dayly escape in her which threaten destruction downefal to the city of God For we which are citizens of so excellent a City do euen yet make warre as it semeth in a doubtful battel and more inffrmity â—â—eÌ„ strength is seene in vs. And that bewtiful City is obscured with innumerable kinds of Crosse infirmity in this world Sathan assaults the same by a thousand sleights The members Apostles of Satan disturb the same with errors Tyrants with open hostility inuade spoils the same But this is our consolation what manner of forme soeuer this Citie beareth in this world god who hath founded stablished the same is of more might then al the enimies which assault it Wherefore she shall still continue invincible and at length most gloriously in the power of her chiefe founder King Christ she shall triumph ouer al her enimies the world the deuill death which thing Dauid saw in y â— spirit singeth in y â— 62. Psal He eueÌ„ god is my strength my saluation c. vers 7. And he exhorteth the Church y â— she would always w t confideÌ„ce flee for refuge vnto her founder saying Put your trust in him alwayes c. ver 8. Vers 6. The Lorde shall rehearse it when hee writeth vp the people that hee was borne there Sela. NOw sée in what estimation Christians are had whether Iewes or Gentiles when they are borne a new in SION God himself hath registred them in the book of life and doth
reckon them vp name by name as his peculiar people as his inheritance purchased with the precious blood of Christ The Lord saith he in writing the people born a new in Sion shal reckon them vp among the Catalogue of his saints or Children Out of this book of life shal he number or name them saying There was he borne namely in Sion This is the Citizen prescribed predestinate vnto y e number of y e heaueÌ„ly citizens him do I know acknowledge as a Citizen of my Citie Luther translateth it thus Der herr writ predigen laslen in allerley sprachen das cleretlich auch claselb gebcren werden which may thus be englished The Lord wil let preach in all manner of spéeches that some shalbe borne there That was begunne by the Apostles in the day of Pentecost when being inspirtd by the power of the holy Ghost from aboue they published forth y e great works of God in diuers languages the same thing comes to passe at this day and shal be accomplished in the world euen to the fulnesse of the Messias his kingdome O holy and most louely Register For they that shalbe on this manner enrolled by God in the Catalogue of his Sainctes who are partakers of the Sacrament of regeneration in SION and are made alredie Citizens ought not to doubt of Gods grace towards them and of their saluation For the giftes and callings of God are such and in such manner That he can neuer repent him of them Rom. 11 If thou beleeuest in Christ thou findest thy selfe in the booke of life Thou art a Citizen of y e heaueÌ„ly IERVSALEM thou art borne of God Concerning such Christ saith Luke 10. Reioyce that your names are written in the heauens Them doth hee acknowledge and reckon as his household For although there is nothing vnknowne to God but al things are euident before the eyes of God yet he is said in the scriptures to know those persons whom be loueth as his Sonnes which do the wil of their Father and shal dwel in the house of their father for euer 1. Ioh. 2. So. S. Paul 2. Tim 2. saith The foundation of God remaineth sure and hath this Seale the Lord knoweth who are his And in Iohn 10. Christ calleth his sheepe by their names and bringeth them foorth vnto the Pastures of life But as touching the vngodly he saith I neuer knewe you Math 7. And in the end of this verse the worde Sela is added To the intent that not so much the word it selfe as the cogitations and meditation of so blessed a writing mysterie of our Regeneration might bee vnderstood Least so great matters should be negligently as it were ouerlooked For if we bée wise wee will alwayes consider most earnestly the grace or benefite of our Baptisme That we are baptized vnto the redéeming death of Christ Iesus whereas all our sins and euen death the reward of sins are vtterly swallowed vp We ought neuer to forget that in SION wée are well borne who were first euill borne in the Babilon of this worlde Namely the children of wrath enimies of God accursed and the bondslaues of sathan And will you heare that excellent Citizen of this blessed SION Paul how much he esteemeth this his allotted happinesse howe worthily hee estéemeth the most ample gift of our regeneratioÌ„â— 3. Tit. But saith he when the bountifulnes and loue of God our Sauiour towards man appeared not by the works of righteousnes which we had done but according to his mercy he saued vs by the washing of the new birth the renewing of the holy Ghost Which he shedde on vs aboundantly through Iesus Christ our sauiour That wee being iustified by his grace should be made heires according to the hope of eternal life This is a true saying And S. Peter 1. Pet. 3 saith To the which also the figure that now saueth vs euen Baptisme agreeth not the putting away of the filth of the flesh but in that a good conscience maketh request to God by the resurrection of Iesus Christ Which is at the right hand of God gone into heauen and swallowing vp death that we might be made heires of eternal life Therefore our dulnesse is to be abborred who for so great a grace of the fountaine of regeneration wherein wee haue put vppon vs Christ God hauing nowe elected vs for his children borne a new vnto the life celestiall in the number of his Citizens do not continually render him thanks And finally who doe not endeuour our selues that being clensed by the bloode of Christ from our sinnes we might liue soberlie iustly and godly in this present world Glory be to God our most merciful father for the exceeding riches of his longanimity whereby he inuiteth vs vnto repentaÌ„ce and a life worthy of baptisme continually beareth with sinners The same God perform in vs so as with worthy thanksgiuing wee may alwayes remember That we are born there in Sion That is in the Catholike Church by the spirite that there by faith we may fully continue in the same City wherein both Prophets al righteous soules eueÌ„ before the incarnation of the Sonne of God are regenerate or borne a newe by the Circumsition of the heart which Consisteth in the Spirit and not in the letter whose praise is not of men but of God Rom. 2. vers 29. Verse 7 The Singers also Trompeters shal he rehearse All my fresh springs shall bee in thee HEre again the Translations varrie The Hebrew text hath Kehillim which some doe translate as it were for shalmes others like as they which dance for ioy Hâ—lal in dad signifieth to leade the Dance to reioyce And where the Hebrewe hath Migniny my fountaines or welsprings y â— Greeke word signifieth an habitation although this varietie doeth nothing impugne the Catholike veriâ—y for both of them are taught as true Yet it is very good to descerne the meaning of the Prophet in the sacred phrase for where as the Greeke translation which is read in the Church at this day is not the pure or sincere translation of the 70. Interpreters but is varying and corrupt we do well by y â— counsell of S. Ierome if in the reading of the Law and the Prophets wee shall returne vnto the Original That is vnto the Hebrew language The meaning then of the Prophet Dauid in this verse according to the Hebrew phrase is And the singers are there vnderstande in that SION whereas people of all Nations are borne a new and not the Iewes only But what sing they Undoubtedly these glorious most magnificent workes of God which he as the most high founder and preseruer of the Church worketh in the Church to the saluation of the Church And seeing that those thinges which God promiseth and performeth in Christ to and for his church are such and in such manner that they exceede al humane perseuerance and vnderstanding of