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
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
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
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
the voice but also with the spirite and trueth expressed this verse to the Germanes vnderstanding on this maner Man wirt von Zion sagen das aller ley leut drinneÌ„ geboren werden It shall be said of Sion all Nations shall be borne therein which we out of the Hebrue text doe thus expound Vir Vir that is euery one in whatsoeuer Nation he be borne at length yet againe hee is borne anewe in SION As Peter also in the Actes Cap. 10. sayeth Of trueth I perceiue that GOD is no 〈…〉 of Persons but in euerye 〈…〉 that feareth him and worketh Righâ—â—ousnesse is accepted with him vers 34. and 35. According to y e Gréeke edetion we read The mother Sion y is y e church which is the spiritual mother For within y â— â—hurch we were borne a new with wâ—ter and of the Spirite and in the lap of the Church as infantes are in their mothers bellie And first we are nourished with milke afterward with strong meat that is with the word of God preached vnto vs according to our capacitie vntill we all meete together in the vnity of faith and knowledge of the sonne of God vnto a perfect man and vnto the measure of the age of the fulnesse of Christe as the Apostle S. Paul saith Ephes 4. Unto this spirituall byrth by or from God had Esay respect with whome in his 49. thay The Church marueiling at the multitude of her Children crieth thus Who hath begotten these Seing I am barraine and desolate a Captiue and a Wanderer to and fro and who hath 〈…〉 them And the Lord God answereth her 〈…〉 I will lift vp mine hande to the Gentiles and set vp my Standerde to the people and they shall bring thy Sonnes in their armes and they shall carrie thy Daughters vpon their shoulders ibidem vers 22. And the Apostle S. Paule in the 4. Gal speaking of the Church saith But Ierusalem which is aboue is free which is the Mother of vs all For it is written Reioice thou barraine that bearest no Children Breake forth and crie thou that traueilest not For the desolate hath many mo children then she which hath an husband Esay 54. Augustine in this place vnderstandeth by the word Homo Christ by reason of the disposing of the nature humane taken vpon him which though it haue a godlye serâ—e or meaning yet is it not spoken in place Arnobius not marking the Hebrue sence Homo Homo vnderstandeth Adam begetting sonnes which may possesse the earth Christ begetting sonnes which may possesse the Heauens But these wordes make nothing for the purpose For he rehearseth before diuers nations purposing to shewe that not onelye the Iewes but also the Gentiles wheresoeuer in the world they be shal fully attain to that Citie of God and shall be borne anew in her that this second and spiritual byrth may not onely pertaine to Israell after the flesh but without respect of any person euen vnto all Nations For by the Commaundement of Christe The Gospell was to be preached vnto all Creatures Which thinge sith it bringeth regeneration all Nations are altogether to be admitted into this Citty That they might be borne anewe as Peter sayeth not of mortal seed but of immortal seed by the worde of the liuing GOD which abideth for euer 1. Peter 1. vers 23. For so our Lorde himselfe openeth openeth vnto vs all the Prophesies touching the saluation of the Gentiles in Math. 8. and Luke 13. Manye shall come from the Easte and the West from the North and the South and shall rest them with Abraham Isaac and Iacob in the Kingdome of GOD. Mathew 8 verse 11 Luke 13. vers 29. Wee haue also in this place a moste strong weapon against the argumentes of the Iewes and those which embrace Iudaisme who doe wrest and arrogate the promises made vnto this Spirituall SION to them and to their earthlye IERVSALEM as if these so great coÌ„mendations were spoken of the earthly Cittie And in our age the newe Donatistes and secte of Chiliastes most foolishlie also dreame with the Uncircumcised promising themselues earthelye thinges where the Spirite of Christe promiseth in the Prophetes with moste swéet allegories spirituall and celestiall thinges Unto which fanaticall persons also the moste delicate Table of the worde of GOD is turned into a Snare and Trappe yea into an offence and Retaliation Their eies are darkened that they sée not and their backes are alwaies made crooked that they sée nothing but earthlye thinges whereas meere Celestiall thinges are promised vnto the elect ones of GOD. For those Nations whome the Prophet and Psalmograph here reckoneth vp and affirmeth to bee borne in SION for a trueth are not borne in that earthlye SION and IERVSALEM Wherfore we doe most necessarilye vnderstande the verse to bee set downe as concerning the Spirituall SION For so the Apostles and Euangelistes as the Interpreters of the Prophetes taught by GOD haue instructed vs to vnderstand and handle the Oracles of the Prophets on that maner Christ the spirituall king a high Prieste of good thinges to come promised in the Gospell vnto a spirituall people thinges spiritual and eternall and not méere temporall good things wherfore as Augustine writing vpon the 39. Psal admonisheth vs Let no man promise himselfe that which the Gospel promiseth him not The scrip tures promise vs not in this worlde but tribulations persecutions Calamities encrease of sorrowes aboundance of temptations to these thinges let vs speciallye prepare vs least vnprepared wee vtterly fall These saith he That halfe verse The most High euen hee shall stablish the same hath in it more consolation then our slender capacity can comprehend It is a certaine special thing of those glorious â—ytles which are declared of y â— City of God For what can bee spoken more glorious and more excellent of the Church of God then that the same is not founded and estabished by humane handes strengthes or counsels but of the selfe same GOD the workmaister and preseruer of all things For euen he Iesus Christ the sonne of the highest God the power and wisedome of God the father was sent to be a Rocke foundation a Wall and couering of this holy Citie Here vpon it followeth that this Citie shall alwayes be safe from the tyranny of death and of the Diuel which hath dominion ouer Death much more then shall shee be safe from â—ickle fading and britle power of this world For seeing that God himselfe is the founder confirmer and defender thereof it cannot be destroyed nor subuerted yea the foundation of this Citie shall stand vnshaken or immoueable euen to the vtmost and for euer As it is in the 47. Psal God hath founded the same Citie his Church for euer vers 7. Therefore although it bée oppugned or assaulted of most cruell and most mighty enimies without all tâ—uces namely of Sinne feare of Death the Deuell the World and the Flesh yet it shall not
most liuely blessednesse But the Gretians doe reade this verse thus The dwelling in thee is as it were of all them that doe reioyce The Prophet Dauid héere speaketh of a Spirituall Joy which true beleeuers onely in Christe doe possesse Concerning which S. Peter in 1. Epist Chapt. 1 saith Whom yee haue not seene and yet loue him in whom nowe though yee see him not yet do you beleeue and reioyce with ioy vnspeakable and glorious ver 8 Receiuing the end of your faith euen the saluation of your soules vers 9. True ioy cannot be but where the sorowfull person is deliuered from all euils The greatest mischiefes are to be cast away from god to remaine in sinne to suffer the tyranny of death and to bee reserued to eternall damnation For al the euils of this world being compared to these horrible and eternall euils are euen scracely shadowes of Euils But true deliuerance from vndoubted and greatest Euils may no where else be found but in SION as it is said by the Prophet Ioel. 2. Chap. Euery one which shall call vpon the name of the Lord shal shall bee saued For in Mount Sion and Ierusalem shalbe deliuerance as the Lord hath said and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call vers 32. No where else then but in the Church the true SION can there bee true ioye Wherefore the dwelling or habitation of al them which truely reioyce by reason their sins are forgiuen theÌ„ through Christ and saluation by him restored vnto them is in SION alone They that are with out Sion are in their sinnes therfore they are the bondslaues of death and the deuil When as therefore they lye in most gréeuous eternall paines enthralled what place of true ioy may be ther yea though they fully wholly possesse in the meane time euen al the pleasures of this world Marke also that he saith Of all them that reioyce is to vnderstand not onelie that the Iewes but also the Gentiles are to bee admitted to the true Joy of SION by the promise of God which thing the Scripture euery where witnesseth In y e 46. Psal The Gentiles are called by name vnto this heauenly ioye O clappe your hands together all yee people O sing vnto God with the voyce of melody Hee is the great King ouer all the earth vers 1. 2. And Paul in 15. Rom. Praise the lord all ye Gentiles and laud yee him all people together vers 11. And the Prophet Esay Chap. 11. The Gentiles shall put their trust in him according to the translation of the 70. Interpreters And this Prophet Dauid singeth in his 63. Psalm The righteous shal reioyce in the Lord put his trust in him and all they that are true of heart shalbe glad vers 10. Beholde he saith not the lewe onely shall reioyce in the Lord but the iust is no man iust then but the Iew Aske of Paul who in Rom. 3. teacheth That the Iew is not iustified by the workes of the Lawe but by faith in Christ the righteous and onely iustifier And by and by hee after that saieth Is hee the God of the Iewes onely Is hee not also the God of the Gentiles verses 29 30. Yes of the Gentiles is he also God which iustifieth Circumcision by faith and vncircumfition through faith And in the 9. Rom. ver 30. he saith What shal wee say then That the Gentiles which followed not righteousnes haue attained vnto righteousnes euen the righteousnes which is of faith Heere the Scripture openly teacheth so farre as vnto iustification pertaineth that there is no difference betweene the Iew and the Gentile all haue sinned and haue neede of the glory of God but by the alone grace of Christ they are iustified And as S. Peter in Acts 15. confesseth god so much as to iustification belongeth made no difference betweene the Iewes and the Gentiles vers 9. If hee made no difference betwéene them if he also iustifie the Gentiles by faith in Christ euen then againe shall the Gentiles be founde iust by Christ If they be iust then also do they reioyce in the Lorde they reioyce in SION They haue aswel their dwelling place as the Iewes the flesh of Abraham haue in SION out of which citie no man is excluded but by that incredulitie which with the vnfaithfull Iewes he reiecteth because they embraced not Iesus Christ the king of SION Whome the Father himselfe as Dauid saith appointed ruler ouer Syon his holy hill And placed him as the head of the Gentiles Therefore the dwelling place of all which truely reioyce that is to say of Christians is in SION namely the Church of Christe concerning which ioy of y â— Christians the Prophet Esay thus Prophecyeth in the 51. Chapiter Ioye and gladnesse shal be founde in SION thanksgiuing the voice of praise ver 3. And the redeemed of the Lorde shall returne and come with ioy vnto Sion and â—uerlasting ioy shall be vpon their heades they shall obtaine ioy and gladnesse and sorrow and mourning shal flee away ver 11. I euen I am he that comfort you Who art thou that thou shouldest feare a mortall man and the son of man which shall be as withered grasse ver 12. Which true and perfite ioy neuer to bee taken away from vs. Ioh. 16. Christ our Lord God who be blessed for euer vouchsafe to giue vs heereby true faith in him and in the world to come by the cleare and manifest beholding of him Amen They that impugne our Catholique faith which we haue confessed sixe yéeres agone in a very great assembly before y â— Emperour States of the Romane Empyre at Augusta will haue themselues accounted onely Catholique doe tye the Church to the Seuenhilled Babilon and so describe her that she may be seene and pâ—rceiued with our very eyes as if indeede shée were a worldly Monarchy wherein a visible heade and Uicar generall might beare rule They I say with their finger point at that Spirituall SION But the Scripture both heere in this place and elsewhere often ynough teacheth that the Head the builder and King of that Sion is Spiritual and the City Spirituall not earthly also the Citizens of that glorious Citie to bée newe creatures in Christ reioysing singing and leaping for ioy not openly ryding on stately stéedes in kings Pallaces al prodigalitie of this world but in the Spirit for being saued through hope as S. Peter saith with inward ioy they looke for that blessed hope and appearance of the glorie of the great God and our Sauiour Iesus Christ in the day of our ful redemption But in the meane time they wéepe lament in this world Contrariwise the world reioyceth and is glad And as Christ saith in the worlde they Finde affliction but in themselues peace through Christ the ouercommer of the worlde For if a man beholde the Church according to her outward shewe shée shall not beséeme
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