shall found forth this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or thankesgiuing and they cried saying saluation commeth of our God that sitteth vpon the throne and the lambe and they shall fall before the throne on their faces and worship God saying Amen praise and glory and wisdome and thankes and honour and power and might be vnto our God for euermore Amen Finally their voice shal be like the voice of great â—aters and as the vyoce of strong thunder saying halleluia our Lord GOD all mighty hath raigned Apoc. 19. 6. more-heareof 〈◊〉 may read Isai. 66. 22. Apo. 21. 3. Apoc. 11. 17. but this Sabboth shal be without peculier Preist for all shal be preists vnto God it shal be without Temple or Ceremonies for God and the Lambe are the Temple of it and shall supply these occasious Wherefore seeing that there is an eternall rest in Heauen and that our Sabboth which according to Christ his institution the Apostles practise the custome of the vinuersal Church we keepe the first day of the weeke in memory and honour of Christs resurrection is a tipe and representation of it it must reach vs to obserue it both incorruptly touching the out-ward forme and spiritually touching the the inward disposition of our mindes and hearts or els we shall neuer keepe it in heauen for God will neuer honour vs in Heauen Luke 9. 26. vnles we honour him in earth and neuer perfect vs in heauen vnlesse by the workes of sanctification wee begin it heare Apoc. 20. 6. 7. The second priuiledge and prerogatiue is the actuall and eternall inheritance and possessing of the new heauen and the new earth part of the dowry ioynter of the Saints 1. Pet. 1. 4. Apo. 5. 10. 2. Pet. 3. 13. Rom. 8. 21. 22. Math. 5. Now whether they shall sometimes by locall motion and bodily presence albeit some new and learned writers out of the. Apoc. 5. 10. and Apo. 21. 8. 2. Pet. 3. 13. before named and from the nature of a glorified body that can both ascend and discend at his pleasure doe collect and would conclud it or which is more probable and likely by vision and heauenly contemplation and noe absurdite for if Saint Steuen being on earth and hauing noe doubt his eyes for the present clarified looked vp into Heauen and saw Christ sitting on the right hand of God Act. 7. ver 56. why may not a glorified body by his glorified eyes and the aire and skye being also purified looke downe from Heauen and contemplate the Earth c. But because this poynt is difficult and the knowledg of it is rather coniecturall then certaine wee must bee content to bee ignorant of it vntell the day when all secrets shal be made manifest and let vs in the meane time make some vse of the point as most may concerne vs Here is matter of consolatioÌ„ for poore Christians that either neuer actually possessed any worldly goods lands or liuings as Lazarus and others or haue beene with the religious Hebrewes by the enimies of the truth dispoiled and depriued of them Heb. 10. 34. or els by the men of the earth whose portion is as it is to be feared in most or many of them only in this life and that enclose and hedge in al to themselues and their proper vses vnmercifully turning men out of home house and liuing well let them possesse their soules in patience and in faith and hope apprehend and waite for it for they shall one day inherite the new Heauen and the new Earth they shall haue roome enough and larg demaines when their enimies repining at it shall remaine foreuer excluded and excomunicated from them and it The third preuiledge is that the Godly then compleatly and perfectly and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shal be all kings preists Prophets Apoc. 5. 10. and so partake of Christ his dignity and offices As Kings they shall raigne with Christ and triumph ouer Satan and all the wicked yea and treade them vnder their feete Rom 6. 20. Mal. 4. 3. As Preists they shall eternally praise God and the Lambe for the redemption of his people c. and perfectly obey his will Apoc. 22. 3. And as Prophets they shal as far forth as is possible for a finite and circumscriptible creature knowe GOD and see him and exquisitely vnderstand all things that shall concerne their felicitie 1. Ioh. 3. 3. 2. Cor. 12. Vse Wherefore if euer wee looke and hope to be Kings Priests and Prophets in Heauen let vs as spiritually so conscionably practise these offices in earth for the practise of them in this life and in the life to come differ not in essence and substance but onely in place and degrees let vs then as Kings rule and raigne ouer â—ur affections and desires and gouerne our familyes like so many little Churches in the feare of GOD. Let vs as Priests consecrate our selues soules and bodies to Christ and his worship and seruice and pray continually to GOD in behalfe of our selues and our domestiques Lastly let vs as Prophets labour to bee rich in the knowledge and vnderstanding of Gods will and so to our vtmost power and skill impart it as occasion and our calling shall require vnto others especially to those of our owne family Gen. 18 ver 17. 18. The fourth priuiledge of the Saints in glory is their glorious and perpetuall triumph and perfect victory ouer sinne death hell satan and his angels and all the reprobate whatsoeuer Sinne and death and hell shal be a bolished and cease foreuer 1. Cor. 15. 55. 56. 57. in respect of the Godly bee destroied as Apoc. 20. 14. Antichrist and his members shall no more assaulte and persecute vs for the beast and the false Prophet shall be cast aliue into the lake of fire burning with brimstone Apoc. 19. 20. and all the members and worshippers of the beast shall drinke of the pure wrath and â—ee tormented in fire and brimstone before the Holy Angels and before the Lambe Apoc. 14. 10 11. they shall goe forth and looke vpon the Carcases of the men that haue transgressed Isa. 66. 24. Finally the Saints shall treade downe sathan and all their enemies vnder their feete Rom. 16. 20. and shall stand before the Throne and before the Lambe cloathed with long white robes Uiz. of purity and inocency and hauing palmes in signification of victory in their hands Apoc. 7. 9. Vse Wherefore the due consideration of this last prerogatiue as also of the former must kindle and worke in vs an earnest and continuall expectation and longing after our full and finall redemption and perfect glorification The dutifull wife should not so long and looke for the returne of her husband farre and long time absent the husbandman so hope and waite for the haruest the Mariner the hauen the wayfaring-man his iorneyes ende the woman in trauell her deliuerance the Captiue his liberty as wee should wish and waite for pray for and expect the time of
Q VVhat is the forme of a Sacrament An. The relation order or proportion that is betwixt the signe and the thing signified Q What is Baptisme A. The sacrament of our new Birth or of our first admittance or entrance into the Church or Christianity Rom. 4. 11. Math. 28. 19. Qu. To whom doth Baptisme belong A. To al beleeuers to their childreÌ„ Qu. Are inâ—ants then to be Baptised especially seeing that the scripture maketh no expresse mention thereof A. Yes vndoubtedly for first there is such an affinity betweene Circumcision Baptisme that succeedeth it that by what reason the children of the Iewes were circumcized by the same may the children of Christians be baptized Secondly the commission that Christ graue to his Apostles commanding them to baptisze all nations was general and made no exception of Infants Thirdly the Apostles baptized whole families Ac. 16 15. 1 Cor. 1. 16 1 therfore in al likelihood Infants that are a part of theÌ„ Lastly the grace promise the thing signified belong to InfaÌ„ts therfore the outward signe also Q. How often is a man to be Baptized An. Only once For as it is sufficient to be once ingrafted into the Church once borne so it sufficeth to bee but once baptized Secondly there is but one baptisme Ephe 4. Lastly circumsition was but once administred therefore baptisme in like manner Qu. What is the outward signe or element in Baptisme Answ. Water onely and no signes or matter els Que. VVhat is the thing signifyed by Baptisme Answ. First the purging and washing away of our sinnes by the sprinkling of the bloud of Christ. Secondly our regeneration or sanctification to eternall life Titus 3 5. Rom. 3. verse 25. Q. VVhat is the forme of Baptisme An. The diuing dipping or baptizing of the Infant with water by the Minister into the name of the Father the Sonne the Holy Ghost Mat. 28 29. Qu. VVhat gather you hence Ans. A double solemne couenant First in regard of God the Father to receiue the party baptized into his fauor of God the Sonne to redeeme him of God the holy Ghost to regenerate him Secondly of the party baptized who here solemnely promiseth to acknowledge inuocate worship God alone and withall to renounce the world the flesh and the diuell Q. What vse are we to make of baptisme An. First when we are teÌ„pted to commit any sin we must for the preueting of it call to ourâ—remembrance our solemne vow made in baptisme Secoâ—dly we must dayly labour to feele and discerne in our selues the proper effect frute of Baptisme namely the power of Christs death mortifying sinne and the power of his resurrection quickning and renewing vs. And thus much of sacraments in generall and of Baptisme in particuler Qu. VVHat is the Lords supper An. A sacrament of our spirituall norrishment growth and preseruation in Christianity Qu. Who instituted it Ans. The Lord Iesus Qu. When Ans. At supper time Qu. Why at that time An. Because at that euening began the day of the passouer and Christ being forthwith to be appreheÌ„ded could not defer it to the next morning Qu. Why did the Church change the time of the administration of it Ans. The time is but an externall accident which is in the Churches liberty to reteine or alter Secondly the reason why they changed it vnto the morning was the preuention of drunkennesse gluttony or the like abuses that in processe of time crept in Qu. What are the outward signes or elements in the sacrament Ans. Bread and Wine Qu. Why are there two signes in the Lords supper Answ. For two endes First more liuely and fully to set forth Christ his passion Secondly to signifie and seale vnto vs our full and perfect norrishment and saluation in Christ. Que. What doth the breaking of the bread signifie An. The body of Christ bruized and crucified for vs. Qu. VVhat doth the powring out of tht wine signifie An. The bloud of Christ shed for the remission of our sinnes Qu. Then we neede no Popish images pictures crucifixes and to represent vnto vnto vs Christs passion An. No For the death and passion of Christs holy Scriptures and also in this Sacrament especially is described set forth and depainted liuely before our eyes And as for the Papists lying vanities they are flat idolatrous and we abhoâ— and detest them Qu. What is the thing signfied bâ— this Sacrament An. Christ Iesus and all his merits and blessings Q. what is the forme of this SacrameÌ„t An. The order relation betweene bread the wine the thing signified in the administration and vse of this sacrament Qu. Explaine and shew vnto me the order analogie and proportion betweene the signes and the thing signified An. Thus it appeareth as the bread and wine haue force and efficacy to norish and strenthen the body so the body blood of Christ together with al the benifits that flow froÌ„ his death passion doe inwardly norish strengthen a beleeuer vnto eternall life Qu. Are the Bread and Wine in the vse of the Sacrament things really existing or but only outward shewes appareÌ„ts as the Church of Rome imagineth An. They doe really exist and retaine their former substance nature for first according to the infallible rule in Philosophy no accidents can subsist without their subiects to whome they are tyed Secondly the Apostle Paul in the whole discourse of the Sacrament mentioneth the expresse words of bread and wine 1. Cor. 1. 26. 27. 28. Qu. How then and wherein differeth the bread and wine in the sacrament from common bread and wine A. Not in nature substance but only in end vse significatioÌ„ For in common vse they serue only to the nourishment of the body but in the sacrameÌ„tal vse to the norishing of the soule secondly before they were without signification relation but in the Sacrament they signifie Christs body and blood Q. Then the elemenss of bread wine are not transsubstantiated or turned into the very body and bloud of Christ A. No for first it is a spiritual foode therfore spiritually to be eaten and receiued by â—aith Secondly the holding of this absurd opinion ouerthroweth the articles of Christs Incarnation ascension for if he was borne of the Virgin Mary then not made of bread if he be ascended into Heauen and there contained vnto the ende of the world then he is not corporally preseÌ„t much lesse made of bread Thirdly it destroyeth the very nature and forme of a Sacrament which consisteth in the relation respect that is betwixt the signe and the thing signified Fourthly the bread in time will mould and the wine turne into vinegar ergo there is no such conuersion Lastly to omit many other arguments if there were any such transubstantiation the very reprobates as Iudas should truly feede on the body bloud of Christ and so should bee saued but this is flat
7. 12. Christ sanctifieth clenseth his Church by the Washing of water through the word that he may make it vnto himselfe a glorious Church without spot or wrinckle c. Eph. 5 26 and 27. The graces that Christ bestoweth vpon her are as chaines to adorne her as Myrrh Incense and the spices of the Merchants to persume her as Purple and Skarletto clothe her as pretious Iewels to beautifie enrich her finally shee as Queene standeth at his right hand in a vesture of the gold of Ophir Psalme 45 vers 9. More particularly Christ trimmeth and prepareth his spouse First by offering and affording vnto her the means and ministery of grace and saluation as the Preaching of the worde Ephesians 4 11 12 13. the seale of the Sacraments Mathew 28 19. 1. Corinthi 1 23 24 25 26. Herevnto may be added troubles crosses and afflictions which albeit in their owne nature they bee euils and plagues for sinne yet the quality and property being altered by Christ his death they are made meanes to humble vs medicines to purge vs sowre sauce to make vs to relish better the Heauenly foode of our soules bridles to curbe and restraine vs from sinne and spirituall directers to guide vs to the Kingdome of heauen Secondly Christ trimmeth his spouse by the continual and effectual in working and efficacy of his blessed Spirit For without this all the outward meanes should bee onelie for conuictment of men and for their more iust condemnation and not for conuersion or consolation for by it hee alone giueth the encrease 1. Cor. 3. hereby he epeneth meÌ„s vnderstanding to vnderstaÌ„d the scriptures Lu. 24. ve 32. he openeth their hearts as hee did Lydias to attend vnto good doctrine Acts 16. ver 14 he coÌ„uerteth their hearts as he did the heart of Cornelius all that heard the words with him Ac. 10. ve 44 hereby he leadeth them into all truth Iohn 16. 13 he dwelleth in them 1. Cor. 3. 16 he regenerateth them Ioh. 3. 5. 8 finally he comforteth strengtheneth them Ioh. 16. 8 in that he is the principall in trimming and preparing the Church his spouse and that vnlesse hee giue grace and successe al other meanes albeit neuer so good holy be vaine and frustrate it must teach ernestly and continually by praier to desire and entreat the Lord to prepare vs to make vs meet for his kindome and to make the ministery of his word and Sacraments and all other good means profitable and effectual vnto vs herein wee must say with the Church in the Cantikles arise O North and come O South and blowe on my garden that the spices thereof may flow out and then let my beloued come to his garden and eate his pleasat fruite CaÌ„tickles 4. v. the 16. The instrumentall trimmers adorners of the Bride are specially and most singularly the ministers and Preachers of the word For these doe with Paul labour to present their congregation as a chast Virgin vnto one hul band lesus Christ 2. cor vers 1. 2. They haue the ministery and embassie of reconciliation committed vnto them 2. cor 5. ver 18. They are the Preachers of faith repentance Mark. 1. ver 15. Math. 3 2. Act. 26. 20. They haue the keyes and authority subordinatly vnder Christ to binde and to loose to remit and to retaine Mat. 16. 19. Ioh. 20. ver 23. finally they are the outward organes meanes of illumination conuersion and saluation as may appeare Act. 26. 18. 1. Tim. 4. 16. 1. cor 1. 21. Hence it is that Philip must teach and conuert the Enuch Act. 8. 35. Ananias Paul Paul Lidia and Peter Cornelius Act. 9. 10. 11. Act. 16. 14. Act. 10. ver 7. and 3. 4 The vse hereof is to teach in no wise to neglect despise or distast the Preaching of the worde and other Holie meanes of our Saluation as many and most do vpon the perill of their owne saluation but vse them with all care reuerence diligence and constancy And therefore what a shame is it for most men yea what an occasion to aggrauate their condemnation that they will for supplie and obteyning of earthlie foode prouision and aduancement trudge and trauaile farre and neere almost to euetie market and faire and in the meane time neglect the foode of their Soule suffer it to pine and to perrish they are more churlish to it then Nabal was to Dauid more without compassion then the rich glutton was to Lazarus and more hard hearted and mercilesse then the Iayler to innocent Paul and Sylas who put them into the dungeon or inner prison and locked their feete fast in the stocks Act. 16. 24. And thus much of the principall preparer of the Bride and also of the instrumentall Thirdly the subiect or person that is thus prepared of Christ and his ministers that is also as a voluntary and vnderstanding creature by remouing the bar and incumbrances of infidelity idolatry and impenitency and by vsing and frequenting all the holie meanes of begetting confirming and increasing the sauing graces and gifts of God is this spouse of Christ the Church the elect the beleeuers and in a worde all that desire and seeke to be saued For these are often and continually warned and perswaded in the Scriptures to watch Marke 13. verse 35 36. to bee sober and to watch vnto prayer 1. Peter 4 7. and to haue feruent Charity amongst themselues verse 8. to repent Act. 17. ver 30. to purge themselues 1. Iohn 3. 3. to put on the brest-plate of faith and loue 1. Theff 5. 8. and hope of saluation for an helmet ibidem to beware of surfeting dronkennes and the cares of the world Luke 21. 34. to waile yea sigh mourne for the redemption of their bodies Rom. 8. vers 20. 21. 22. 23. To vse the world and all things thereof as though they vsed them not 1. Cor. 7. 27. to feare God and giue glory to him Apo. 14. vers 7. to make an eccho and cry with the Bride in the Apocalyps come euen so come Lord Iesus Apoc. 22. vers 14. 20. and lastly at the discerning of the neere approch of Christ by the accomplishment of the last signes such as are the ruine of Romish Babilon the conuersion of the nation of the Iewes in the kingdome and countries into which they are dispersed the roaring of the Seas and waters c. reioysingly to looke and liâ—t vp our heads because our full redemption draweth neare Luke 21. verse 28. Apoc. 19. 7. This espoused virgin or Bride therefore must of necessity being stirred vp and assisted by the spirit of GOD and hauing the meanes of grace so abundantly ministred vnto her get the wedding garment of faith and holines Math. 22. vers 11. 12. 12 make her selfe ready Apoc. 19. verse 7. to desire to bee disâ—olued and to be with Christ Phil. 1. 23. and to endeuour to be acceptable to him 2. Cor. 5. Reasons and arguments further