the way of godlines and to follow Christe setting our affection in heauen that according to Paule when Christ which is our lyfe shall shewe him self that wée also may appeare with him in glory therfore saieth Iames Coloss 3. be yée patient vnto the comming of the Lord and settle your harts in goodnes Ieames 5. for the comming of the Lord draweth nigh when wée shall see him as hee is and bee lyke him made by him the sonnes of God who shall chaunge our vile bodies to be facioned lyke to his glorious body that wée shal enioy the fruition of his euerlasting tabernacle heauenly Ierusalem at his apperance againe to s aluation wherunto hee called vs by the Gospell to obtaine the glorie that commeth of our Lord Iesus Christe for Christe dyed for vs that wee should be partakers of his kingdome and haue our names in the booke of lyfe as s ayeth the Apostle wée shall be deliuered from this bondage of corruption into the glorious libertie of the sonnes of God Rom. 8. according to Christ s aying I am the resurrectioÌ„ and life he that Iohn 12. beleeueth in mee yea though hee were dead yet shall hee lyue and whoso euer lyueth and beleeueth in mee shall not dye for euer according to Luke Luke 20. They which be made woorthy to inioy the kingdome of the world to come and the resurrection from death can dye no more for they are equall to the Angells and are the sonnes of God for saith Christe Reue. 2 3. He that ouercommeth and is faithfull to the end I will giue him to eate of the tree of lyfe whiche is in the midst of the Paradice of God and he shall haue a crowne of lyfe and shall not be hurt of the second death but haue his name in the booke of lyfe and be a piller in the temple of my God and shall sit with me in my seate and this is the victorie that ouercoÌ„meth the world euen our stedfast and vnfeigned faith in Iesus Christe by whome GOD hath giuen vnto vs eternall lyfe and to bee glorified by him at the day of his appearance when the misterie of Gods will shall be opened in his sonne Iesus Christe at his comming at the end of the world at which time shall be performed that all that haue done well shall go into euerlasting lyfe and all that hath done euill into euerlasting dampnation Therfore let vs fight the good fight of faith and walk as children of the day waiting with stedfast hope for the adoption and fruition of the heauenly kingdome that wée may méete him ioyfully comming in the cloudes and receiue the garland of glorification crown of eternall lyfe Iohn 1.5 and so be clothed with our heauenly mansion and translated into his kingdome there receiuing the glorious garments of immortalitie and the blessednes of our new IerusaleÌ„ where beholde loe wée shall shine as bright as the sunne beames béeing in all glorie in the presence of the brightnes of our omnipotent and resplendant GOD. To the obtaining of the high rewarde whereof watch and pray that your conuersation may be according to the Gospell and therefore let this be your watchman while you heare do lyue to think 〈…〉 Saint Ierome that whether you eate or drink or what so euer elles you dooe that moste dreadfull Troumpet soundeth in your eares Aryse you dead and come vnto Iudgement O Lord God almightie which art and wast and art to come who art Alpha and Omega to thee be all prayse Reue. 7. honor and glorie and all power and dignitie be ascribed to the almightie maker sitting vpon the seate and vnto the Lamb for euermore for now all thy people are gathered togither in thy sonne Iesus Christe that the misterie of thy holy will may be declared Ephe. 1. beeing called by the troump of the Arch-angell to come vnto the mouÌ„t SioÌ„ and to the citie of the liuing God the celestial Ierusalem and to an innumerable sight of Angels Heb. 12. and vnto the congrogation of the first borne soÌ„nes which are written in heauen and to God the iudge of all and to the spirits of iust and perfect men to Iesus the mediator of the new Testament Phil. 3. who dooth change our vile bodies to be facioned like to his glorious body therfore to thee be prayse honour and power world with out end AMEN THE GLORIOVS AND BEAVTIFVL GARlande of mans glorification CAP. 3. The mysterie of the glorious comming of Christ at the end of the worlde and howe he shall sit in his glittering seate of Maiestie in all brightnesse of glorie power and dominion And where and howe all thinges both in heauen and earth shall be gathered together in Christ and see his glorie and in him our glorification EXcellent was the coÌ„ming of God when in his glorie like shining fire he came downe vpon mount Sinai where Moyses brought the people out of the tentes to meete the Lorde so marueilously descending downe vpon the hill which burnt with fire eueÌ„ vnto the middes of heauen Exod. 19. and the Lorde spake vnto them with his mightie thundring voyce out of fire Deut. 4. that it was exceeding fearefull and also so wonderfull glorious that wheÌ„ Moyses had talked with God the people were not able to beholde the glistering beautie and brightnesse of Moyses face Exod. 34. But nowe howe shall his glorie bee exalted in the highest what time he shall make him vp to shake the earth in the ende of the worlde when the appearance of his comming shall exceede in all greatnesse of power and might according to Micheas Micheas â— The Lorde shall come out of his holy place Micheas 1. and come downe and â—â—eade vpon the high things of the earth that the mountaines shall consume vnder him and the valleyes cleaue asunder And then the Sunâ—â—e and Moone shall be ashamed at his glorious face of incomparable clearenesse brightnes from which all the beautie glorie and pompe of this world shall flée away into rebuke dishonour not able to endure the perfection of his beautie and incomprehensible pureness e before whome it consumeth to nought perish and vanish away for euer and thâ—â— O how Christ shall glister in the magnificence of his omnipotent kingly maiestie in the preheminence noe of dignitie aboue dignities that all the glorie of kings kingdomes shall giue place and vanish at his mightie appearance not worthy to endure the glorie of his coÌ„ming before which they waste and fall into emptines and he shall shew him selfe from the top of the high heauens with such triumphant power of vnspeakeable glorie dominion and might that from his presence shall â—â—â—â—away â—eâ—rth heauens and their place no more souÌ„d for he shall shake the earth againe remooue â—â—â—ne away those things which haue ended their course wheÌ„ the powres of heauen the vniuers al frame of this world shal
saying Ye men and brethren girde you with the girdle of Gods veritie for through his abuÌ„dant mercie he hath begotten you again Peter 1.1 not with golde siluer but with the precious blood of his owne deare Sonne Iesus Chris t as of a Lambe vndefiled and without spot that ye should enioy an inheritance immortal and glorious prepared in heauen for you Therefore trust perfectly to the grace that is brought by Iesus Christ walking after the spirit abstaining froÌ„ fleshly lustes and fighting against the workes of darkenesse that your conuersation may be holy in the grace of Christ whereto hee hath called you through faith to saluation thus she neuer ceaseth making such godly perswasions to allure men to winne the glorie of Christes kingdome 2. True Religion And then preasing forwarde to come to the seconde staire after the veritie of the trueth receiued there stoode another beautifull Ladie arayed with all the shining garments that the first ladie conteined in her treasure house of trueth Reuel 12. for she was clothes with the brightnesse of the Sonne the cleare worde of God and the moone vnder her feete the righteous life of the true congregation and Church of Christ was her foote-stoole and the glorie of twelue starres ouer her head the doctryne of the Apostles and the righteousnes of their lyfe was her glorie wherewith shée decked and that came vp to her vpon this staire for shée was the nurcing mother of Christes little Children her name was true Religion Iohn 6. whome the righteous branch of Dauid did holde faste by the hand and lynked her with a chaine of golde of vnseperable loue vnto the first virgin her sister called the light of the Gospell that whosoeuer came to imbrace the first Lady with true sincere loue mu st also by the golden chaine of feruent loue come vp higher vnto this swéet virgin of true Religion Heb. â— to imbrace her giftes of grace hope and peace to professe stedfastly the true profession of Christe with all humblenes reuerence and obediynce vnto God then these being not all the stayres that confirmed a verteous man in the way to euerlasting life 4. Godlynes and perfect Righteousnes These Ladies pointed him to looke vp to the third golden stayre and there was a trym méek virgin very demure and humble euen as white and as méek as a dooue being rayed clothed with pure goodly raines of silke the garments of righteousnes down to the ground and she stood vppon the corner stone of Sion and shée was rich and had no end of her treasures Reue. 22. Pet. 1.1 she was fast linked with the golden chaine of vnseperable looue to the other two virgins her sisters that who so came vp to them she for her goodly raines and treasures sake stirred them vp with feruent spirit to come vp higher to s tandde with her and walke vpon the corner stone of Sion wher she by name being true godlines did set vp righteousnes in the ballance and filled all commers to her with the frute therof for she was as the shining light her beautie as the burning lamp did giue them the rich garments of righteousnes which the two first Ladies had made ready for them to weare which notwithstanding without this virgins asistance did shew in them naked and bare for shée being by name true and pure Godlynes did deck all men that had receiued the light of the Gospel and the profession of true Religion with the garments of health and precious armour of God Ephe. 6. putting vppon them the breast plate of righteous nes the sandalles of peace the shéeld of faith the helmet of saluation the bond of looue swoorde of the spirit saying Now walke yee as Children of the light Thess 1.5 and Children of the day for they that are Christes haue crucified the flesh with the appetites and lusts therof Gal. 5. and so walke in the spirit and doe the frutes therof and be not weary of well dooing but tread down the lustes of the fleshe which woorketh contrarie to the spirit to kéepe you back from this golden staire vnto whiche you are come wherin shine as lights in the world Iohn 1 5. holding fast the word of life and then aske any thing at Gods hand according to his will and he heareth your petitions Phil. 2. thus she reioyced all commers with the aboundant swéetnes of heauenly conuersation 4. Constancie perseuerance in righteousnes to the end And now preasting vp to the mark appointed the high calling in Christe these Virgins appointed a righteous man to go vp to the fourth golden stayr wher was a pure modest and méek Virgin clothed with a garment dipt in blood setting her feet very fast vpon the precious corner stone of Sion being lynked with the vnseperable and inuincible golden chaine of perfect loue stedfastnes of faith Reue. 19 impugnable patience vnto the other thrée Ladies her Sisters and her name was called Constancie perseuerance in the trouth vnto the end And then you might see many come running feircely out of the house of Esaw Pet. 1 1. Iames. 1.4 to make sharpe battels and ass aultes against this virgin shooting many arrowes of persecutions afflictions temptations and tribulations to beate her of that golden stair and to kill her and there you might see that shée was sore wounded that her garments were blooddie for the Lambs sake â—â—pe 3. Rom 8. Heb. 12. Cor. 2.1.52 and shée did holde fast the treuth and her faith did coÌ„tinue vnshaken of all the darts of persecutions and shée had a great Adamant in her hand and vppon it was written the wordes which the Lamb of glorie spake to Iohn from heauen to draw thereby all them that were come by grace in Christe to the other thrée stayres to come vp to her Reue. 23 to walke with constant faith and patience vpon the glaciall sea of perseruerance to the end and then shée sayd to them that were belowe come vp hether boldely and feare none of those thinges which you shall suffer for beholde the holy one of Israell that set vppon Dauids stoole byddeth you be of good cheare for I am with you saieth hée to the end of the world and hée saieth vnto Iohn Feare not I am the first and the last Reu. 1. and am aliue and was dead and beholde I am a liue for euermore and haue the keyes of hell and death Holde therfore fast the patience of my woordes to the end and thou shalt be safe Reu. 2. for whosoeuer ouercommeth and is faithfull to mée vnto death I wil giue him a crowne of lyfe and will make him a glorious piller in the Temple of my God Reu. 3. and shall sit for euer with me in my seat in new Ierusalem and thus this goodlie Ladie did comfort all commers with such heauenly consoation of Christes owne wordes who is faithfull
VIVAT SERENISsima Regina TO THE MOST MIGHTIE IMPERIAL AND Vertuous Princesse The Lordes Anointed Queene Elizabeth by the grace of God of Englande Fraunce and Irelande Queene Defendresse of the faith c. â‚ SEing that your Royall seate and Scepter most mightie and Imperiall Princesse is clothed with Salomons heauenly giftes and doeth holde vp the golden rodde of wisedome which leadeth to the euerlas ting kingdome I hope therefore by the goodnesse of God that it shall please your Highnesse to admit this Garlande of mans glorification to come into your sweete gracious handes prefixed with the bright beames of your Maiesties princely glorious Name vnder the high precious Cedar and sweete Libanus of your heauenly goodne sse of mercie and pardon That though I be troubled in heart with 〈◊〉 â—eare of your supers plendent personage being a mightie princes of power to dedicate this Pamphlet to your most excellent Maiestie yet the singular clearenesse of your spirituall treasures of goodnesse doth preuaile ouer my dutifull minde and faithfull allegeance in such sort as if the precious pearle of your vertues did shine into my heart not forbidding this litle Pamphlet to come vnto your Highnes trusting that the purenes of the matter will increase your MAIESTIES deare soule to an exceeding consolation touching your bodie to bee glorified In consideration whereof when I did beholde the goodly order of the bright glistering starres which the omnipotent Creator hath placed in the firmament of the heauens there seeing the resplendent starre Corona lucida I was stirred vp with the ioyfull remembrance of your Maiesties incomparable personage being the Lordes Anointed knowing that your Highnesse being vertuous meeke and mercifull is equall with the good Kinges of Iuda with Asa Ezechias Iehos aphat and Iosias in imbracing all godly vertues to the aduauncing of the honour glorie of God that as your Maiestie in all points doe holde your scepter linked to the Scepter of Iuda being an vnfeigned friend to the holy one of Israel so your highnes subiectes in great consolation of heart do pray sincerely in all humblenesse of duety vnto God for the preseruation of your Maiestie loÌ„g to reigne ouer vs And that at the appearance of Christ you may be a glorious Saint in the kingdome of God And now considering howe much Israel reioyced of Salomon how greatly it lamented after his departure Am perswaded how much all true Protestants do pray that the Lord may be your shield as he was to Abraham and that your blessed personage may by the great mercie and s ingular goodnesse of God gouerne this Realme as happily and as many yeeres and more as good king Asa king of Iuda did to the glorie of God and saluation of soules Wherefore most Mightie and Renowned Soveraigne when I an inferiour vnworthie to touch the grouÌ„d that your Maiestie doe walke on had finished this Beautifull garland of mans glorification expressing the mysterie of new Ierusalem with her golden crownes and diademes I thought it so much to represent the heauenly ioyes and happinesse of our euerlasting glorie as that it was a matter meete to be dedicated to your most excellent Maiestie shewing howe your Highnesse being an Anointed and blessed Princesse of power vnder God vpon the earth shal meete at the great day of resurrection the King of al kings comming in his triumphant progresse from heauen with the glorious companie of his holy Angels when your pure personage shall beholde that incomprehensible Scepter of the euerlasting kingdome of Dauid That as your Maiestie in your progresse vpon the earth hath highly preferred your faithfull subiectes in Christ to honour and dignitie so nowe that glorious King of eternitie and euerlasting glorie will fashion your bodie to be like his owne glorious body for that your blessed power hath set foorth the true Religion worshippe and honour of God to a liuely hope among your Highnesse subiectes to obteine the eternall garlande of glorie Thus humbly committing this litle Pamphlet of mans glorification vnto your Princely magnificence and godly wisedome doe beseech your Highnesse in your tender minde of mercie to receiue it vnder your sweete gracious mans ion of goodnesse among your spirituall treasures of heauenly solace and ioye thereby daily remembring how your God and Sauiour Iesus Christ shall clothe your Maiestie with an euerlasting garment of glorie shining vpon you with the light of his owne couÌ„tenance there sitting with Christ in his owne seate of heauenlinesse tasting the vnspeakeable ioyes of eternall blessednesse where you shall glister as the shining of heauen worlde without end beholding the beauty of God for euer in new IerusaleÌ„ Thus hoping that your Maiesties mercie will be as a vayle to my boldenesse doe trust that as your Highnesse hath truely touched the hemme of Christes garment whereby you haue partaken the heauenly sparkes of the vertues of Christ that it would please your goodnesse to admit one sparke towards the acceptation of this glorious garlande And so I pray God with all instance that it may please him of his aboundant mercie to preserue you our Sweete beloued Queene and true branch of Christ long to reigne ouer vs in tranquillitie and peace to the setting foorth of Gods honour and spreading abroade of his glorie that your MAIESTIE may ioyfully appeare before Christ and be crowned with the Crownes and Diademes of euerlasting glorification which O Lord so let it be Your Maiesties most humble Subiect faithfull Orator FRANCIS KETT THE GLORIOVS and beautifull garland of mans glorification CAP. 1. How Christ was ordained before the world was made to our glorie and promised of God in his holy Scriptures to come in the humanitie and humilitie of flesh to tast of death for all men whereby is iustified the righteousnes of God to the confirmation of our beliefe touching our election and glorification SEing that our glorification and heauenly mansion wherwith we desire to be clothed and which we hope after this life to inioy doth come by Iesus Christ sealed with the holy spirit of Gods true promise wée ought then to stablish our hartes in the consolation of good hope and faith to obtaine the glory that thus cometh by Christ by considering the faithfulnes of God who performeth all that he hath promised and is able to doe excéeding aboundantly aboue all that we can aske or think who so loued the world that he spared not his owne sonne but gaue him a reconciliation for our sinnes The mysterie of whom was hid since the world began and since the beginning of generations but now is opened and declared openly to haue brought to vs life and immortalitie through his Gospell to the iustifying of the righteousnes of Gods true promise to be the glorious riches of our eternall glorie by the shedding of his bloud vpon the Crosse That whereas through the sinnes and disobedience of one man sinne reigned vnto death So by the obedience of one maÌ„ Christ might grace reigne through
righteousnes vnto eternall life That all that beleeue in him walking after the spirite and not after the fleshe might be pertakers of his heauenly kingdome and made the sonnes of God For which cause to the better confirmation of our faith and hope of saluation It is requisite to shewe the ordenance and promyse of God from the beginning touching our iustification in his sonne Iesus Christ that thereby wée may be stirred vp by the great goodnes of god for to séeke by Christe Cor. 1.2 the riches of his glorious inheritance vpon the Sainctes Ephe. 11. hée béeing ordained thereto of God before the beginninge of the worlde was made vnto our glory Touching whome in this Booke of mans glorification wée must especially looke vnto Christes two coÌ„mings séeing that hée is the Author and finisher of our redemption and hath adopted vs to be the sonnes of glory by appearing once in the fleshe to put sinne to flight by the offering vp of him self to death whome the Father raysed vp to lyfe and is entred into heauen to appeare now in the sight of God for vs and shall come againe to chaunge our vile bodyes Phil. 3. to be facyoned lyke to his glorious body Wherfore in that wée haue such an high Aduocate in heauen by whome wée haue an incorruptible crowne of blessednes propounded and set before vs Let vs walke woorthy and laudable vnto God according to the grace giuen vs in Iesus Christe that wée may obteine the rewarde thereof And now to consider the purpose of the heauenly Father how hée hath blessed vs in all manner of heauenly thinges by Chris te according as hée hath chosen vs that wée should be Saints through the beloued Iesus It followeth that wée kéepe alwayes a ioyfull remembrance that as the glory of the last house or teastament of God was greater then the first so is it in the manner of the two commings of Christ for first hée came in the humilitie of the fleshe to be to vs a sauing health béeing borne of the Virgin Mary by the woorking of the holy Ghoste very man and mortall and yet the same very GOD and immortall who béeing in the shape of God and equall with God Collos s â— Phil. 2. in whome dwelleth all the fulnes of the Godhead bodyly yet did he neuerthelesse make him self of no reputation takeing vpon him the shape of a seruant and became lyke vnto man and was founde in his apparell as a man humbling him self to all obedience for though hé e were Gods sonne yet learned hée obedyence Heb. 5. by those things which hée suffered and was made perfect Ihon. 1. and the cau se of eternall saluation vnto al that obey him according to Iohn In the beginning was the woord and the woord was with God and the woord was God and this woorde was made fleshe beeing the lyfe and light of men giuing power to all that beléeue in him to be the sonnes of God for it pleased the father to send his sonne in the sinfull fleshe béeing without sinne and by sinne dampned sinne in the flesh and loused the woorkes of the deuill Rom. â— Whome he maketh heire of all things béeing the brightnes of him self bearing vp all thinges with the woord of his power for so it was the will of the Father that in him should all fulnes dwell Heb. 1. and that in him all thinges should haue their béeing that hée might be all in all Thus the Almighty Creator hath performed his blessed promyse Collossians â— when hée sayde that the séede of the Woman shall breake the Serpents head and when long after he sayd vnto Abraham vnto thy séede will I giue this land Gen. 3. for one that come out of thine owne body shall be thyne heire and thy seede shall bee as the starres in number And Abraham beléeued the Lord and it was imputed to him for righteousnes Gen. 15. And also the Lord sayde againe to Abraham when he was 89 yeare olde I will make my couenant betwéen mée thée and will multiply thé e excéedingly for behold my testameÌ„t is with thée that thou shalt be a father of many nations my bond betwéen mée thée thy séed after thée shal be an euerlasting testament Gen. 17. I wil be good to theÌ„ giue theÌ„ the land wherin thou art a stranger euen all the lande of Canaan for an euerlasting possession and wil be their God for Saâ—a shall beare a sonne and thou shalt call his Name Isac and she bare Abraham a sonne euen the same season which the Lord had appointed Thus it pleased the Almightie God to choose vs and not we him shewing foorth hereby the abundancie of his loue and mercie in that he hath mercie vpon theÌ„ which are not yet in the worlde and in that he declareth his great goodnes in multiplying his louing kindnesse towarde those that are present and to them that are past and to them that are to come for after that Adam thorough sinne brought in the corruption of nature that the euill seede of wickednesse was sowen in all mens hearts whereby death raigned by meanes of sinne then this darnell and cockle of vice and iniquitie did grow ripe in the first generations of Adam that they walked after their owne stubborne and fleshly will neglecting Gods goodnes That the Lord was thereby prouoked to bring his water floud vpon the world and destroy all mankind except Noye and his houshold And then after that the ofspring of Noye was againe multiplied to a great people by processe of time they waxed also vngodly and wicked but the Lord had giuen his raine bowe for a couenant that he would neuer destroy the world with watermore And then the most highest did choose him a man from among them whose name was Abraham whom he loued and to him onely God shewed his wil and made an euerlasting couenant with him promising him as is aforesaid that he will neuer forsake his seede and so in his old age gaue him Isaac the first testimonie of Gods promise and couenant begun so faithfully performed in Christ Iesus to the ioy and comfort of man in that we see euidently that God is righteous and true and hath giuen vs an assured hope of our election that by that onely seede of Abraham we shal enioy the euerlasting possession of that new blessed land of Canaan the first lande of promise Therefore this record we must beare in our selues that God is true and that what hee do or say can no man change what he promiseth he can not but perfourme And nowe the more to confirme this ioye faith hope which Abraham our first father of beliefe had to God in respect of the birth of Isac and prosperitie of his seede The Lorde to our example tryed whether righteous Abraham would beare an immutable minde towardes his God to loue him aboue all the dearest thinges which he
souereigne Kings Quéenes yée swéet Lordes and Ladies yee loouing Fathers and mothers yée wise Maisters mistresses yee obedient sonnes and daughters yée diligent and dutiefull seruants and maides reioyce and be glad and behold your king and precious Sauiour Christe ryding into Ierusalem lowly and humbly and now aryse and lyft vp your eyes of repentance to heauen and reioyce and beholde how hée is ready to come in all glory and maiestie with all the powers of heauen to crowne you with glorious and heauenly glorification Therfore cast of from your hartes the euill mantell of pryde disdaine arrogancie haughtines vnmercifulnes frowardnes sinne and vnrighteousnes and put on the mantel of Christes humblenes lowlynes mercifullnes goodnes holynes and righteousnes that you may mé ete Christe with ioy and receiue the incorruptible crowne of eternall glorie for thus saithe the Lord I will set his dominion in the sea and his right hand in the floodes he shall call mee Psalme 89. thou art my Father my God and my strong saluation and I will make him my first borne higher then the Kings of the earth Esay 55. my mercy will I keepe for him for euermore and my couenance shall stand fast with him his seede also will I make to indure for euer and his throne as the dayes of heauen of whome hée sayeth My seruaunt whome I will giue for a witnesse Esay 52. prince and captaine to the people will I keepe to my selfe hee is myne elect in whome my soule is pacified I will giue him my spirit that hee may shewe foorth iudgement and equitie among the Gentiles hee shall not be an outcryer nor high mynded his voice shall not bee heard in the streates a brused â—eede shall hee not breake and the s moking flackes shall hee not quench but faithfully and truely shall hee giue iudgement hee shall neither bee ouer seene nor hastie that hee may restore righteousnes to the earth for I the Lord hath called the in righteousnes and do lead the by thee hand therfore will I also defend and giue thee for a couenaÌ„t of the people and to be the light of the Gentiles that thou mayest open the eyes of the blynde let out the prisoders and them that fit in darknes out of the doungeon house In this the Prophet foretelling that Christe shoulde come in the fleshe death shewe that by his meanes only wée shall bee brought to an attonment and peace with GOD the Father expressing the perfectionn of looue and pleasure which GOD the Father hath in his sonne Christe béeing one selfe same nature in another according to Mathew Math. 3.17 This is that belooued Sonne in whome is my delight and according to the saying of the Prophet Dauid in the second Psalme Thou art my sonne this day haue I begotten thée and héerin wé e learne that if Christe is so béeloued of God béeing God according to the fortie nine Psalme the Father of heauen saith to his sonne God Thy seat shall be for euer and euer then how muche are wée bound to looue so beloued a God and Sauiour to vs giuing him all the praise honor and thankes euermore lyfting vp pure hands for so great treasures of vertue and goodnes for his cléernes of trouth and iudgement for the light and brightnes of his moste holy and blessed doctrine for his aboundant swéetnes of his excéeding and bountiful loone toward vs moste miserable sinners in that hée of his meere mercie and goodnes hath broughte vnto vs redemption and delyuerance out of the bondage of sathan sinne and death calling vs to holynesse of lyfe thereby by imitating him to be made by righteousnesse the sonnes of God and pertakers of the euerlasting kingdome And further the Lord saith My seruant shall deale wis ely therfore shall he be magnified exalted and greatly honored like as the multitude shall meruaile at him because his couÌ„tenaÌ„ce shal be so deformed and hard fauoured aboue the sonnes of men yea he shall haue neither beautie nor fauour wheÌ„ we look vpoÌ„ him there shal be no fairnes in him we shall haue no lust vnto him hee shall be the most simple and dispised of all which yet hath good experience in sorrowes and in firmities but wee shall reckon him so vile and base that we shall not regard him how be it of a trueth hee only takes away our infirmitees Whervpon consider according to Paule that Christ dooth make him self of no reputation and taketh vpon him the shape of a seruant and became lyke vnto man and was found in his apparell as a man and that he abasing him self in respect of all worldly wisdome was of the wis e according to the wisdome of this world dispised scoffed and s corned at hée béeing him self verry wisdome it self and the fountaine therof and he being beautie it self and the Author of all beautie and fairnes woulde shewe him selfe without beautie and fauour to condemne the vanitie of fleshly beautfe and extoll the excellencie and woorthines of the spirituall and heauenly beautie of the soule wherfore O yée Children and Daughters of men yee are become so nyce so arogant and coy because of your faces and so proude of your beauties Come from your vaine looking glasses The contempt of fleshly beautie and beholde héer I offer vnto you the bright shyning glasse of all excellencie euin Christe your King and Sauiour the Author and Giuer of all beauties and godlynesse to beholde him béeing without fauoure and fairnesse beeing lowely mé eke and most humble being simple and not gorgeous how hee condemned and dispised your vaine fleshly pleasure and gaynes euen in the cleere example of his owne person giuing you himselfe for a rule that you reioice not in apparell nor vainely conceaue of your vaine flesh and outward comlines of nature but onely in the beautie of your soules by adorning and decking your inward man with all spirituall rayments of holines and precious ornaments of righteousnes which will neuer decay whereas the flesh and all that pertaine to his furniture is as S. Peter saith as grasse and all the glorie of man is as the flower of grasse Pet. 1.1 the grasse therof withereth and the flower fadeth away but the word of God endureth for euer Moreouer the prophet saith that we shall dispise him and yet he beareth our paine Esay 53. and we shall so contemtuously thinke of him as that we shall iudge him as though he were plagned and cast downe of God wheras he notwiths tanding shal be wounded for our offences and smitten for our wickednes for the paine of our punishment shall bee laid vpon him and with his stripes shall we be healed hee shall be pained and troubled and shall not open his mouth he shall be led as a sheepe to be slaine The prophesie of Christes death yet shall he be as stil as a lambe before the shearers and not open his mouth he s hall be had away his cause not
of our selues for it is the gift of God and commeth not of woorkes Ephe. 2. least any should boa st him self for we are his woormanship created in Christ Iesus vnto good woorks that wee shoulde walke in them so that none can looue Christe in purenes of hart but that of verry force hée will walke in good woorks as thinges that are vnpossible to bée seperated from him that is sanctified with the spirit of adoption and grace for as Christ is the fountaine of all holynes and righteousnes and of all grace and goodnes so it must needes followe that whome Christe hath sanctified with his Spirit that they must of necessitie doo the woorkes of grace and righteousnes so long as they labour and indeuour to be renued and confirmed in the spirit of grace which wée receiuing and takeing of Christe must of force confesse that without it wée haue no power to crucifie our fleshe and to resist sinne and therfore by it wée haue power to mortifie our earthly members and to doo the woorkes of righteousnes whereby it is moste euident and plaine that by the grace giuen by Christe through faith wée may assuredly and boldely perswade our s elues that wee are only iustified and saued Therefore saith Peter Pet. 1.1 blessed be God the father of our Lord Iesus which through his aboundant mercie begat vs againe to a liuely hope by the resurrection of Christe from death to inioy an inheritance immortall and vndefiled reserued in heauen for vs after which the prophets inquired and searched prophesying of the grace that shuld come vnto vs by the spirite of of Christ which testified before of the passions that should come vnto him and the glorie that should follow after for by Christ we are made spirituall and not carnall whose spirite doth certifie our spirite that we are the sonnes of God and heires annexed with him who was ordained before the worlde was made that by him our faith and hope might be in God so that our iustification come not by the deedes of the law but by the faith of Iesus Christ according to Paule Thess â—â— God hath from the beginning chosen you to saluation through sanctifying of the spirite and through the beleeuing of the truth whereunto he called you by the gospell for Christe is the end of the law to iustifie all that beleeue Rom. 8 Gal. 6. walking not after the flesh but after the spirite for what soeuer a man soweth that shall he reape if he sow in the flesh hee shall of the flesh reape corruption but if he sow in the spirite he shall of the spirite reape life euerlasting for they that are Christes Gal. 5. haue crucified the flesh with the appetites and lustes thereof for Christ hath called vs to holynes and not to vncleannes and hath called vs out of bondage into libertie from the curse of the law vnto grace from darknes to light from death to life from the spirite of feare to a liuely hope from a earthly mansion to an heuenly kingdome from transitorie glorie to euerlasting glorification therefore stand grounded and established in faith not moued away from the gospell but stand fa st in the liuely hope to obtaine the glorie that commeth by Christ Rom. 8. being vnfainedly pers waded that there is no damnation to them that are in Christ Iesus walking after the spirite and hauing their conseruation in heauen For Christ our sauiour sitting now in the right hand of God in his maiestie Ephe. 1. was before the world was by whom wee are predestinated heires according to the purpose of him that worketh all things after the purpose of his owne will that through his gospell should be brought life and immortalitie to all that do beleeue in his sonne Iesus Christ the seede of promise to Abraham who now is declared openly whom we looke for to come shortly in the glorie of his Father and all holy Aungels with him in all power and maiestie And that all eies shall see him and they also that pearsed him so that al kindreds of the earth shall mourne when they behold Christ comming in the cloudes Reu. 1. to reward euery man according to his deedes therfore it behoueth vs to watch and pray and to become new creatures thereby making our election sure by holding fast his gospell in a stedfast faith by walking after righteousnes that we may ouercome and be found faithfull at the appearance of Christ comming in glorie that we also may be crowned with glorie ioyfully saying Blessed is the kingdome that commeth in the name of him Mark 11. that is Lord of our Father Dauid Hosanna in the highest Ephe. 1. BLessed be God the Father of our Lorde Iesus Christ which hath blessed vs with all maner of spirituall blessings in heauenly things by Christ according as he had chosen vs before the foundation of the world was laid that we shoulde bee Saintes through loue who ordained vs before through Christ to be heires vnto him selfe according to the good pleasure of his will to the praise of the glorie of his grace wherewith hee hath made vs accepted through the beloued Iesus by whom wee haue redemption through his bloud euen the forgiuenes of sinnes according to the riches of his grace Therefore to him be all honor and glorie world without end Amen THE GLORIOVS and beautifull garland of mans glorification CAP. 2. How man shall bee chaunged at the sounde of the laste troump from mortalitie to immortalitie and from an erthly nature to an euerlasting nature and appeare before the iudgement seat of Chris t to be rewarded according to his deedes eyther with eternall reproufe or els with euerlasting glorification SVch is the eternall ordenance of the Almightie God touching our saluation in his Sonne Iesus Christe that all men ought too knowe that as by a man came death so by a man come the resurrectioÌ„ of the dead for as by Adam all dye so by Christe shall all bee made alyue according to Iohn Iohn 5. The houre shall come in the which all that are in their graues shall heare Christes voice and shall come foorth they that haue done good to the resurrection of lyfe and they that haue done euill to the resurrection of dampnation Esdras 22. as the Lord sayd by the Prophet Those that be dead will I rayse vp againe from their places Daniell 12. bring them out of their graues and they that sleepe in the dust of the earth shall awake some to euerlasting lyfe Acts. 17. some to perpetuall shame and reproufe as it is in the Acts that the Lord hath appointed a day in the which hée will iudge the world according to righteousnes by that man Christe whome hee hath appointed and hath offered faith to all men after that reysed him from death to whome saieth Iohn the Father hath coÌ„mitted all iudgement because that all men should honor the sonne euen as they
honor the Father that who soeuer heareth Christes woâ—des and beléeue on him that sent him Ihon. 5. hath euerlasting lyfe and shall not come to damnation but is scaped from death vnto lyfe for he only hath the keyes of hell and death and shall iudge the quick Reue. 1. and the dead at the appearing of his kingdome were all shall be brought before the iudgement seat of Christe Tim. 2.4 and euerie one giue accountes of him self to God for the time is come that iudgement must begin at the house of the Lord consider therefore what kynde of people we ought to bée in conuersatioÌ„ of lyfe Pet. 14. séeing the righteous iudgement of God shall be opened which will reward euery man with prayse honor and immortalitie that hath cuÌ„tinued in good dooing Rom. 2. and vnto them which hath béen sinfull disobeying the trenth following iniquitie shall come indignation and wrath tribulation and anguish vpon the soule of euerie man that doe euill for there is no parcialitie with God but dooth iudge without respect of persons according to euerie mans woorkes as shall appeir at the great day of the Lord when God shall iudge the secretes of men by Iesus Christe according to the Gospell when we must appeir â—e before his glorious and shining maiestie that euery man may reape according as he hath sowen Heb. 4. whereuppon wée are moste carefully to looke into our owne selues knowing that our soules shall be wayes vpon the ballance by that moste true and righteous Iudge whose eyes are as a flame of fire that sercheth out the ground of our hartes and knoweth the seceret mouings of our myndes iudgeth all the thoughts and intentes of man to whome all things are naked bare neither is there any creature inuisible in the sight of him who will not fayle to to recompence euery man according to his wayes and according to the frutes of his counsels and imaginations Now then that this generall cytation of our infallible apperaÌ„ce before that Court regall which God will holde with all fleshe is so apparent wée should perswade that the knoweledge héerof is moste forcible to strike into our hartes a trembling feare and dread of our Lord God who is a consuming fire to all that doe continue in wickednes so that it behoueth vs not to make lighte accompte of so great and fearfull a matter and it standeth vs vppon not to bee necligente and carelesse of the order and maner of our liues séeing it toucheth our Soules so neare the quicke as that by the conuersation of lyfe in this world the marke and garland is so set before vs that if wee run the race of this life Math. 2.5 like to the fiue good Virgines hauing prepared in our selues in the grace of Christ that lamps of righteousnes sanctifying the Lord God in our harts by good conuersation in Christe then wee shall accompanye Christe or bridegroome in the great day of his comming shall go in with him to the wedding and to the inioying of our new heauenly Ierusalem which is to coÌ„e down froÌ„ God from heauen preparhd as a Bryde for her husband Roue 19. béeing rayes with the goodly raines of the righteousnes of Saincts for the mariage of the vndefiled Lamb and for the glorious companie of the holy elect who then are happie that they are called vnto the lambes supper ther crowned with the garland of glorification Otherwise if wee run the race of this lyfe like the fiue foolish Virgines not respecting the rule of righteousnes nor imbracing the Oyle of gladnes brought to vs by Christes Gospell but wallowing in wickednes and so seek after our fleshly lusts warldly vanities then we must be shut out from this heuinlie wedding and throwen down from the face of God from his Sanctes into that dreadfull darcknes where all are wrapt in sorrow wot made the dampned children of cursed sâ—â—haÌ„ Phil. 2. for which cause we ought to watch pray knowing not what day or hours the sonne of man shall come therfore we ought to watch pray woorking out our salâ—â—â—â—â—◠〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—es t that our misdéeds seperate vs from our God and our sinnes hide his face for â—â—er from vs. Wherfore ye Prachers cry out the voice of heauines the lamenting cryes of dolefulnes which shall come vnto the wicked lyuers vnlesse they repent and yée Preachers sound out the voice of ioy of mirth and gladnes that shall come vnto the godly people and thou hart faint not and thou hand slack not to vtter foorth and wriâ—â— how the gates of heauen staÌ„d open night and day for penitent sinners for the faithfull godly and righteous people to receiue them into blessednes and shewe thy self a watchman to awake with this voice all the people round about out of the sléeping bed of sinne blowing into the eares of deafe sinners wretched worldlings fleshly lyuers vicious walkers and wicked dooers how hell gates doe gape very wide â—n moste dreadfull maner to swallowe vp vngodly and wicked men Num. 16. O how did the Isralites tremble and quake when they did se the earth open and s wallow vp Corath Leui. 10. Dathan and Abyron with all that they had that they went down quick to hel O how did the Isralites tremble and shake when a consuming fire came out from the Lord and cons umed Nadab and Abihu the sonnes of Aaron Num. 11. then come hither yée Inhabiters of the earth and behold with gushing teares with sorrow and terrour with sobbes and sighes the day of vengeance with much more terrour of the gates of hell gaping and gas ping in most hydious monsterous and horrible manner to swallow by 〈◊〉 diffent 〈◊〉 and again con sider how the Isralites did saâ—â—â—â—or â—â—are when â—â—â—re of the Lord did burne among them and consumed the vtter mo ste of the hoast Exo. 19. Deut. 4. and how againe they shaked for dread when the Lord came down vpon mount Sinay with tempest sound of the trump speaking out of fire baâ—nnow come hither all ye people of the Lord beholde the day of the Lord for he coÌ„meth to take vengeance reward yea he coÌ„meth him self lyke a goldsmiths are 〈◊〉 the heauens shall perish the elemeÌ„ts melt the earth all the 〈◊〉 withâ—â—â—â—â—e according to Paule who saith that Thess 2. â— Hee shall come with his mightie Aungels in flaming fire rendring vengeance vnto them that know not God and to them that obey not the gospell of our Lord Iesus Christ which shall be punished with euerlasting damnation from the presence of the Lord and from the glorie of his power when he shall come to be glorified in his saintes and made maruelous in all them that beleeue therefore harken vnto this voice with sorrow of thy sinnes and remember this day with trembling and repenting knowing how miserable those sinners were that continued in wickednes and
droue off from day to day till the floud came vnawares vpon them and ouer whelmed gulled into their throts Gen. 7. and how lamentable the Sodomites were that abode in sinne and wallowed in the lustes of the flesh and pleasure of the world and in the lusts of eating and drinking and vicious life euen till the fire and brimstone came downe from heauen and consumed and burnt them vp mo st â—ufully and heauily but now behold Gen. 19. there is comming a thousand fold more of fire and brimstone of flames of wee of flouds of sorrow and burning plagues of paine at this daye when all the frame of this world shall flye on a fire and the Lord shall say depart ye cursed into euerlasting woe the before turne vnto me saith the Lord and I will turne vnto you and hast to come away yee people from slumbring in sinne Zach. 1. and tarry no longer in your carnall lustes and worldly desires walking with old Adam in filthy and vaine conuersation but awake and rise vp to Christ in holines of life knowing that you are redeemed with his precious bloud as of a lambe vndefiled and without spot that you may be found vnto laud honour and glorie at the appearing of Iesus Christ Pet. 1.1 when ye shal giue accoumptes to him who shall come with all power Pet. 1.4 to iudge the aâ—icke and dead for which cause ye ought to awake out of sinne and sit downe vpon the lap of repentance there making you readie dayly and hourely with the garments of righteousnes the breast plate of faith and loue and putting on the golden helmet of hope the precious badge of your saluation thereby making your calling and election sure that when his glorie appeareth you may be merry and glad and not ashamed Wherfore consider this dreadfull day in which behold how wofull how trembling and fearefull it shall be to see all the borders of the heauens and earth in a raging blaâ—â—ng and consuming fire that wee shall crye vnto the hilles and rockes to fall on vs and how pitifull shall this day be in which all the kindreds of the earth shall mourn with greeuous lamentings and weepings therefore let this consideration enter into the eares of thy heart as the sounde of a terrible trumpet â—â—uddering and shaking thy fleshly man with the remembrance of the groning cryes of the wâ—es in hell and aâ—â—mating thy inward man with the ioyfull voices of blessednes in heauen considering that such is the glorie that the gospell propound of the one side and such is the dreadfull damnation which it threateneth of the other siâ—e as that the one is an eternall kingdome of glorie prepared for the good and godly people the ioy whereof surpasseth the other is a place of horror and a furnace of vnquencheable paines ordained for the wicked into the which they shall be damned and cast from the face of their Gâ—â—â— there remaining swallowed vp into the dreadfull and arke gulphes of hell for euer and euer and there shall continue tormented with fire and brimstone for euer where euerie place and corner is filled with curses and woes and with most heauy lamentations and bewaylinges where alas the heapes of woes the stormes of punishments the raging of spirites the horror of Sathan and the crying of soules may pearce your hartes with the woundes of sorrow to think of the griefes that shal be accompanied with the lameÌ„table damnation of departing from god from his kingdom of heauen whereby it shall make that day of sentence and iudgement of death giueÌ„ by Christ to be most trembling dreadfull and fearefull Notwithstanding there is no cause why any man shuld feare himselfe so that he perseuere in the christian faith good life as a sure refuge and anker He that beleeueth neede not feare although great shal be the feare of the dreadfull day of dome when Christ shall shew himselfe sodenly vnlooked for from an high after the maner of a flash of lightening dreadful to the wicked who shall be cast into euerlasting fire uost amiable louely to the godly persons which shal be called to the feloship of the heauenly kingdome for the Lord will let none of his chosen be away but be shrowded vnder the protection of his Angels for it is written Psal 34. the angel of the Lord tarrieth about them that feare him deliuereth them yea hee will comfort them euen when that sodaine and sore perplexity of mind and earnest des peration shall go as a quauie and wind ouer all nations that the people of the earth shall consume and pine away as peple of an other world for feare of beholding the terrible stroke of God the powers of heuen to moue contrarie to their creation the earth shake and reele the sea boyle and swel with most dreadful roring noise to the dismaing of al mens hartes to behold the whole vniuersall world and al the nature of things ready to be shaken in sunder like an earthen pot when the bright shining s un being the fountaine of the light of the earth heauens shal with sodain darknes couer his face imbraiding the vngodly with their blindnes because they would not see follow imbrace the euerlasting s on lanterne of the world Iesus Christ the moone shal giue no light and the stars fall which hath bene so many hundred yeares fastened to the firmament Then the glorie of the Lord shal come his face burne that no man can abide it Esay 3. and shall set vp the power of his voyce an angrie countenaunce with a consuming fire then the kinges shall vani sh as the scums of the water and shall say to the mountaines couer vs Ose 9. and to the hilles fal on vs fearing the fire of Gods indignation now kindled ouer the whole world doubting to be girded in the flame thereof whereat all the nations of the world shal strike their breastes beholding the signe of the sonne of man which being sâ—ne a vniuersall trepidation shall come vnto all mens hartes when the Iewes shall see whom they haue offended and the Gentiles s hal see the maiestie of the crosse which they laughed to scorne for they shall see the sonne of man whom they dispised comming on high in the cloudes of the ayre with a great armie of Aungels Esay 26. who commeth out of his place to visite the wickednes of them that dwell vpon the earth and who shall abide it for then shall the axe be put to the roote of the trees so that euery tree that hath not brought foorth good fruit shall be hewen downe and cast into the fire when fire and brimstone storme tempest shall be their portion to drinke which obstinate sinners haue heaped to them selues despising the goodnes patience and long suffering of God which meanes he vsed in their life time to call them continually to repentance but then shall
it bee to late to knocke when the dore shall be shut and to late to crye for mercie when it is the time of iustice for hee shall thus come according to Mathew Math. 25. in his glorie and all the holy Aungels with him and then sit vpon his seat of iudgement and all nations gathered before him seperating the one from the other as a shepheard diuideth the sheepe from the gotes and shall set the sheepe on the right hand and the gotes on the left and then shall hee ioyfully say to them on the right hand Come yee blessed children of my father inherite the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world And then hee shall say to them of the left hand depart from me ye cursed into euerlasting fire which is prepared for the diuels and his angels wherin the Apostle setting before our eyes the glorious maiestie of Christes comming and the effecte of his comming may séeme to pricke all mens harts euen to bléed for sorrow of their sinnes to think vpon this fearfull sentence of Christ who thus commeth as saith Iohn Baptist with the fanne in his hand Matth. 5. and will purge his floure and gather the wheat into his barne béeing the righteous and the chaffe which are the wicked he will burne with vnquechable fire by which wée plainly sée the seperation of the good from the ill with the deserts and rewardes of bothe parties Ephe. ◠and with the whole manner of the latter iudgement which no people high or low shall escape for all things in heauen and in earth according to Paul to the Ephesians shall bee gathered togither in Christe and Christe as a iust iudge shall deuide them into two parties and will showe vnto bothe a iust cause of his iudgement Math. 25. that the iust may knowe with what well dooinges they haue attained so great felicitie and ioye and the ill may know with what offences they haue deserued euerlasting punishment for Christe shall say with a mylde and mery cheare to them which hath doone the déedes of righteousnes and mercy for his name sake Come yee blessed of the Lord inherit the kingdome and be clothed with your heauinly mansion Wherfore stirre vp your hartes to imbrace this ioyfull voyce of voyces which hath powre to kendle and inflame all humble harts to run after godlines with all looue power and might of the soule without wearynes to obtaine the ioy of Christes kingdome for which cause stoppe not your eares harden not your harts follow not your lusts EPhes 1. hunt not after worldlynes but thrist after righteousnes and walke in the narrow way and guyde the féete of thy conscience in the holy path that leadeth and conducteth to this eternall saluation and moste blessed Cittie the ioye wherof is so superabundant the glory so triumphant the blessednes so heauenly the pleasure so swéet the treasure so excéeding Cor 1.2 the place so incomparable that the eye hath not séene nor the eare euer heard nor the hart could euer thinke the ioye which is prepared in heauen for vs for suche is the inheritance as to bee made the glorious Sonnes of GOD crowned with glorie and immortalitie for euer Cor. 2.5 where death is chaunged to euelasting lyfe nakednes clothed with Gods brightnes sorrowes turned to perpetuall ioy and all our infirmities are chaunged into to eternall and incorruptible happines In respect wherof séeing wée knowe of a certaintie that if our earthlye mansion or corporall presence wherein wee now dwell were destroyed that wee haue a building or Cittie ordained of GOD beeing an habitation not made with handes but eternall in heauen the verry kingdome of Christe and re st of GOD for which wée should sigthe and grone desiring to bee clothed with our mansiō which is from heauen but yet wée must bee héere clothed and not naked as men without good lyfe for as long as wee are in this tabernacle and world wee shoulde sigth with the s obbes of true repentance and grone with the gréefe of godly sorrow abhorring sinne and wickednes in that wee would not be found vnclothed but would be clothed vpon with the garment of righteousnes that mortalitie might bee swallowed vp of lyfe Reue. 3. To the obtayning wherof Christe counsell vs to buye of him golde tryed in the fyre that wee may bee riche and to buye of him white rayment that wee may be clothed which is treuth and righteousnes that our filthie nakednes doo not appeare as if wee were sotted in the corruption and lustes of the olde Adam thereby indaungering our selues because we neither seeke for the garments of Godlynes with pure diligence and looue nor knock with the hand of stedfast vnfeigned faith nor aske with deuotiō of sincere prayers the giftes of his grace to bee found at the great mariage of the Kings sonne without our wedding garments and so s ubiect to the Ministers of Gods wrath who shall bee commaunded and charged to bynde vs hand and foote and to cast vs moste dreadfully into vtter darknes Wheruppon print and establishe this for euermore in thy hart how greeuous and lamentable it shall bee abooue all greefes and s orrowes when Christe shall say to his Reapers or ministring Angels Take those cursed bynde them lyke tares in sheaues to be brent And al so print it in thy hart and mynde as in a remembring Booke or looking glass e how heauie and lamentable a case it shall bee to beholde the looke of Christe Math. 1◠when his lippes shall wagge with furie and indignation and his toung sparkle out the fierie streames of a wasting and consuming fire when hee turneth to them that stande on the left hand with dyrefull and terrible voice saying Goe away from mee you cursed and execrable of my Father which are woorkers of iniquitie and regarded not righteousnes departe you to fire which neuer shall bee quenched Math. 25. which is prepared for the deuill and his Angells Oh consider how sorrowfull and heauie shall this departure bee into all heauines from whence you shall neuer bee redéemed nor pittied how bitter and gréeuous shall that sentence bee how lamentable shall those cursed soules bee whiche shall neuer againe be comforted that must forsake the presence and sight of Christe for euer that must bee depriued from heauen from ioy from all pleasure for euer that hath loste the glorious and renowned inheritance of new Ierusalem for euer that hath lost the hapines which others inioy for euer-and now are departed into bitter torments greeuouslye to bee vexed for euer what a losse is that O wretched people what a paine is this you may faint to think it And therefore awake vp ye drunkards and wéepe mourn and howle all yée gluttons and wine sippers least you go with Esau from your byrthright and s up the pottage wine dregges of hell fire ye vncleane persones come to the waters of lyfe
and washe you cleane and cleanse your corrupted harts by washing away your euill thoughtes wicked lusts and sinfull déedes in the blood of Christe by true repentance and newnes of lyfe least you be cast hedlong from the inheritance of heauinly pleasure into the filthie lake of perpetuall sorrowe and miserie and all yée Inhabiters of the earth striue against sinne and cast from you the fellowship of Ipocrisie enuy pryde couetousnes with all other sinnes and cut of from your hartes the cloisters of euill thoughtes and the braunches of wicked imaginations that you may bee found woorthie at the great day of the LORD to bee translated into the kingdome of glorie Wherefore consider the terrour of the day of iudgment and beholde how all kyndreds dooth stand shaking and be wailing before the highe Iudge that it may inforce vs to teares for to thinke on that daye when shall bee séene that moste great lamentable and euerlasting seperation departing of the elect from the dampned and this departing shall be such as that the one parte shall be cast into hel Mark 9. into the fire that neuer shal be quenched out of which no wéeping teares can restore vs where sayth Mark that the worme dyeth not and the fire neuer goeth out when shall be fulfilled that heauie voice Wo be to you that are riche Luke 6. for you haue therein your consolation woe bee to you that are full for you shall hunger woe bee to you that now laugthe Math. 11. for yee shall waile and weepe and theÌ„ shall bee heard that voyce of terrour and wretchednesse saying Woe bee vnto thee Châ—rasin Woe bee to thee Bethsaida whiche so little regarded and estéemed the Myracles and the Doctryne doone in thee which if they had bene done in Tyre and Sydon they would haue repented in sackcloth and ashes Therefore I say to thee it shall be easier for Tyre and Sydon at the day of iudgement then for you And wo be to thee Capernaum which art lift vp euen to heauen being so proud thou shalt be brought downe into hell for if the miracles and doctrine done in thee had bene done in Zodome they had remained vndestroyed till this day therefore it shall be easier for the land of Zodome in the day of iudgement then for thee wherefore beware ye carelesse people howe you refuse the doctrine of Christ least you heape to your selues an hard iudgement at the day of the Lord make ye readie that you may go vp to the house of the Lord Esay 2. and to the house of the God of Iacob and walke in his pathes for Christ hath told signes wonders and tokens of his comming And he hath sent you many a Ionas to recall you to repentance and to teach you his doctrine of saluation therefore turne to God least that Nyniuie rise in iudgement against you and the woe of Bethsaida ouertake you for as it happened in the time of Noye so shall the comming of the sonne of man be they eate they drank they married wiues and were married Luk. 17. euen vnto the same day that the floud came and destroyed them all like wise also as it chanced in the daies of Lot they eate they dranke they bought they sold they planted they bilt and euen the same day that Lot went out of Zodome it rayned fire and brimstone from heauen and destroyed them all And after these examples shall it be in the day when the sonne of man eppeareth and then two shall be in bed the one receiued the other forsaken two grinding at the mill the one receiued the other forsaken Therefore harken O earth and ye indwellers of the earth to this terrible day of the Lord yea cast off your mantle of securitie and slacknes and open your blunt hartes and dull eares giuing a carefull eare to the sentence which the Apostles doe giue Matth. 19. Matth. 25. that shall sit with Christ in iudgement saying take cast the vnprofitable seruant into vtter darknesse And Iohn Paul saith That all vncleane persons that worke abominations Reuel 21. 1. Cor. 6. and lyes the fearefull vnbeleeuing murtherers whoremongers sorcerers Idolaters couetous drunkardes extortioners theeues weakelens cursed speakers enuious persons continuing to death without repentance from the bottome of the heart shal haue their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death for as the trée falleth so doeth it lie whereupon beware ye wicked worldlings sinners the delay and hold off froÌ„ time to time driue off froÌ„ true repentance amendment of life least your sinnes lie heauie vpon you and your heart grow hard in these sinnes can not repeÌ„t and so heape to your selues the treasure of wrath against the day of vengeaÌ„ce according to the prophesie of Enoch Saint Iude. saying behold the Lord shall come with thousands of saints to giue iudgement against all meÌ„ to rebuke all that are vngodly among them of all their vngodly deedes which they haue committed of all the cruell speakings which vngodly sinners haue spoken against him TheÌ„ shal the Lord cry with a loud voice Reuel 14. like a lion that roareth vnto his angels to thrust in the sharpe sicle and gather the clusters of the earth and to cut downe the grapes of the earth the wicked and sinfull people and cast theÌ„ into the great winefat of his wrath and the winefat is troden wtout the citie of new IerusaleÌ„ yea it is trodeÌ„ in the place of extreme darknes in the hideous dungen of hel in al horror of bloody sorrowes for the reward of sinne is death and hell where it stincke with brimstone that cannot be abodden where behold with piteous eyes how the soules of the dampned bewayle in woe where all mirth and ioye are turned to woes where all songes and musicke are wooes where feasting and banketting be woes where daunsing and loue toyes be wooes playes and pastimes be woes and where golde and siluer and all gay things of this worlde are chaunged into wretchednesse and woes And of all other this is the most dreadfull woe Eâ—trenseâ—â—â— which is the depriuation of hope from comming out of those wooes And thus the miserable dampned soules are euermore tormented with fire and brimstone and the smoke of their tormentes ascendeth vp for euer and euer And neuer haue rest day and night and they crye piteously to the Lorde and hee heareth not and though they neuer cease from teares yet the Lorde regardeth them not And then they knowe when it is too late that all worldly thinges are vanities and miseries and they woulde repent and it helpeth not and thus they weepe and wayls in dolourouse tormentes and gnawe their tongues in most rigorous paine And so in great burning they drink of the cup of Gods intollerable wrath and heauie displeasure and indignation and they still burne and neuer are burned they seeke death and death
flieth from them and yet are they still in death and shall be for euer and euer and thus they still die and neuer giue ouer vnto death therefore thou sinner amende thy wayes and be obedient vnto God considering these dreadfull tormentes to be the rewarde of sinners for which cause lye downe vpon the bed of weeping and waling wrapping thee in the cleane and newe ayred sheetes of true and pure repentance and couer thée with the faire couerlet of true amendement of life considering that all the afflictions and miseries of this worlde are nothing in comparison to the least that they shall feele in hell for which cause wee ought to tremble from the toppe to the toe saying Woe vnto vs because of offences and sinne if wee repent not and amende our liues therefore let vs turne vnto the Lorde our God without any tarrying being sore afraide of the shrill sound of the trumpet that soundeth out the fearefull Alaran of the wooes of hell And beeing terrified with the sound of the la st trump that shal make all thinges sodainly to fall downe as the walles of Ierico and shall make mens hearts to fayle them forfeare knowing what Saint Peter saith that if the righteous shall scarsely be saued Pet. â— 4 where then shall the vngodly and sinners appeare for if God spared not the Aungels that sinned but cast them downe into hell and deliuered them into chaines of darkenes to be kept vnto iudgement then must we looke for the wrath of God with swift daÌ„nation to be shewed vpon al the vnrighteous and vnpenitent which thing doth cal vs home to examine our conscience seing we cannot halt with God though wee dissemble to the world taking that for a faire lesson Iere. 8. of remembring our duetie to God Esay 1 which he saith by Ieremie that the storke knoweth his appointed time but my people will not know the time of the punishment of their Lord. And againe in Esay he saith that the asse will know his maisters stall but my people wil not know their duetie to me their God which examples do condemne vs of vnkindnes and disobedience to our Lord and shal be witnes against vs of our want of duetie and colde loue as Diues dogge licking Lazarus sores was a witnes against his masters vnkindnes and want of mercie And now let vs turne to the Lord seing we cannot scape the iudgement of God who will come as a theefe in the night when men shall say peace and no daunger then commeth on them sodaine des truction yea hee shall come sodainely as the lightning shineth out of the east in to the west so shall the comming of the sonne of man be yea he s hall treade vpon the high mountaines thinges shall melt vnder him Math. 24. and all and who can abide it yea he shall come as a goldsmithes fire to clense the siluer froÌ„ the drosse Mich. 1. and who can endure it Therefore all harde hartes Zach. 3. froward s tomackes proude lookes stubborn wils and hye mindes shall then weepe and mourn when they sée the signe of the sonne man and all loftie glorious rich or high shall be brought lowe and fall down according to the Prophet The day of the Lord commeth that shal go ouer all pryde and presumption and bring them all down who casteth down the highe lookes of the presumptuous persons and bringeth low the pryde of man Esay 2. and all glorious thinges shall be brought down that day Oh therfore where wilt thou be to get into any rocke or to hyde thee in the ground from the sight of the fearful Iudge and from the glorie of his Maiestie will not serue when beholde the day dooth come in which all shall burn wherat thou shalt wring thy hands with an heauy looke and quake and shake like an aspen leafe and wéepe and waile like a sillie wretch and smyte thy breast with pitious grones and watery ché ekes to see the dreadfull day of dread and the fearfull Iudge of Iudges Wherfore O yée couetous men ye vsurers extortioners and vnmercifull people heare the voice of your watchman what are yée as blocks that heare not are yée as stones that féele not are yée as moules that see not or are yée as Images that feare not beholde the fearfull day of vengeaunce what doost thou say tush where and where is it beholde it commeth as a théefe yea it cuÌ„meth lyke a swift cloude when you shall say peace and no danger then is the iudge at the doore and then of force because yée would not heare in prosperitie sayeth Ieremie you shall wéepe in aduersitie whereat Ierem. 22. Oh how is your countenance chaunged which did looke so stout puffing against your sillie poore neighbour and brother but lo the day is and I see how bitterly you doo wéepe but why wéepe yée what for your goodly houses and gay garments for your groundes your goodes your euidences your golde and your siluer Alas it is turned to fire for beholde sayeth Péeter Iames and Esay you are inforced now to leaue them for they burn and are turned to fire to eate and consume you for now your case is pleaded before all the Angels in the presence of the high Iudge how you haue made you fréends of the wicked mammon where it standeth vpon most manifest euidence Luke 16. and plain confession guiltie or not guiltie of an vnpenitent conscience where if you be found gultie of ill lyfe you are turned of the ladder of heauen and shall fall into the seconde death of euerlasting fire swallowed into hel as the earth swallowed vp Corâ—th Dâ—than and Abyron And yee proud and laciuious yee gluttons yée belly and back pleasers and ye dâ—lcious children of wantonnes who counted it pleasure to liue diliciously for a season what is the world chaunged that I sée you so forlorne and naked hanging down your lippes eyes with such â—â—â—full lookes what doo you want your musicall pleas ures your bankets and chamberings alas they are woormewood and gall for your mirth is turned into heauines and why because the day is come that the powers of heauen dooth mooue the frame therof is crackt and the 〈◊〉 watters make an vntollerable noyse 〈◊〉 of all plagues are ready to be 〈◊〉 the day of fearfulnes in which see and beholde how your chambers of pleasure your soft and swéet beds of lust your tables of bankets your gardens of delight your gorgious apparell with all your wanton delights are turned to fire and brimstone yea they are garglâ—d and fupped vp into the hollow throte and gulfe of hell with Lucifer the father of pryde gluttonie vanitie concupisence and sâ—â—â—e Besides yée Antechrist ye sorcerers witches Idolaters falfe teachers and Ipocrites wher is your goodnes where is your skill and boast that yee looke so fearefully vp to heauen what is the day come vpon you vnawares that the sun looke black the moâ—â— hath
rent in pieces â—â—me in a consuming 〈◊〉 Now the truth hereof iâ— so 〈◊〉 â—laine that there need no great circumstance to prooue with many witnesses out of the holy scriptures any so ignorant as to doubt hereof although saith Micheas Micheas 1. the rebellious people hope that it shall not be so ill Peter 2.3 saith Peter in the latter dayes shall come mockers that will say â—â—â—h where is the promise of his comming But now that you may behold as in a looking glasse the glorious coÌ„ming of Christ as from a farre yet use wtin the compasse of our hearts Iohn 11. as Christ saide to Martha If thou beléeuest thou shalt sée the glorie of God I wil place therefore your soule in the spirit of heauenly meditation fixing your féete in the path of righteousnes and standing immoueable at the â—indow of Gods promises beholding in the glaâ—â—eâ— of tâ—neth with the stedfast eies of faith Iesus the King of glorie comming in a wonderfull glorious and magnificall progresse from heauen to visite the kingdomes and Lordshippes of the earth and the inhabiters thereof with power of mercie and iudgement touching the which the messengers of this glad tidings haue flowâ—â— thorowe the middest of heauen and gone through all the worlde with the ioyfull sounde of trumpet signifying the ioy of redemption to be come and the day of glorie to beâ—â—ie at hand the kingdome of euerlasting rest to draw néere therefore lift vp your heades Matth. 16. and be ready to the reward of your kingdome make haste to meete the king of glorie comming in the glorie of his Father with al his holy angels set 〈◊〉 his glorious throne of all maiestie there shining in his euerlasting clearnes glittering in his eternall brightnesse appearing in his preciousnes excéeding in his righteousnes exalted in his highnes magnified in his worthines sanctified in his holines triumphing in his gloriousnes when the puisance strength power of his omnipotent maiestie shall lighten into all the secrete places of world and his voice imperial shall pearce thorow the vnspeakable borders of all places to raise froÌ„ death to life all humane creatures that euer had being wheresoeuer and to gather them together before his eternall excellencie where all thinges in heauen and earth shall stand before his presence and all knees shall bowe and all tongues 〈◊〉 knowledge to the glorie of God Rom. 14. and then shall take perfourmed that Christ sayd to the high priests that were offended at him when hee was come in his â—owle humanitie saying Matth. 26. You shall see the Sonne of man sitting on the right handâ— of power and comming in the cloudes of the skie whereof the two Angels testified to the Disciples at the ascension of our Sauiour Christ Actes 1. saying Yeâ— men of Galilee why stande yee gasing vp into heauen This saâ—â—e Iesus which is taken vp from you into heauen is returned to the Father whence he came as he hath tolde you before and shall sâ—â—â—â—e againe euen as you haue s eene him god into heauen and that according to Matthewe accompanied with all the godly Angels Matth. 25. Iude. and saith â—â—och with thousandes of blessed Saintes with him and according 〈◊〉 Iohn In a white cloude sitting in his feare of dominion and dignitie Reuel 14. and in his glorious throne of wonderfull gâ—â—â—nes se which is according to Daniel as the 〈◊〉 flame Daniel 7. and his wheeles as the burning fire there went out froÌ„ him a fierie streame as glorious sparkes of eternall heauenlinesse like glisterings of perpetuall beames of 〈◊〉 proceeding froÌ„ the glory of his Godhead and 〈◊〉 out 〈◊〉 him and yet euer in him shewing the 〈◊〉 treasure of his grace and goodnesse â—he â—â—â—d â—â—prehensible 〈◊〉 out of his right cleare Maiestie the infinite and vnsearcheable vertues and giftes of glorie which issues eternally from his deuine Godhead and â—â—nipotent power And thus hee shall appeare most maruellous and all eyes sée him and all nations gathered before him Daniel 7. as saith Daniel A thousand times a thousand serued him a thous and times ten thousande stoode before him And theerfore Blessed be the kingdome that commeth in the Name of him that iâ— Lorde of our Father Dauid Marke 11. Hos anna Praising him in his holines praising him in the â—â—rmament of his power praising him in his 〈◊〉 Actes praising him according to his excellent greatnesse For nowe is the full time wheÌ„ the mysterie of the will of the Father shall bee opened in his Sonne Iesus Christ comming in the glorie of the father when shall be opened the endlesse clearenesse of diuinitie the incomprehensible â—â—â—â—our of Gods Maiestie the glorious riches of euerlasting glorie the incomparable profoundnesse of Gods wis edome the flowing fountaines of Gods goodnesse the shining light of all trueth the glorious kingdome wherto wée are called and the tresures of rewardes to men with glorie and dishonour and then the brightnes and sight of all things shal be apparent and all things past shall be as one thing present according to Mathew there is nothing so close that shall not be opened nothing so hyd that shall not be knowen Math. 1â— such s halbe the omnipotent potentiall and in comprhenssble clearnes of God that before him all that were in power in spirit in act in thought in intent in heauen in earth or in hell from the beginning shall there shew it selfe present apparent cleare and manifest by the endlesse brightnes of God that all the nature of sathan and the power of hell shal be made manifest for euer and the nature of man as it was and now is and shal be in glorie or dishonour shall be expressed for euer and all the great woorkes of GOD and beautie of Angells Cherubins and Seraphins shall there be knowen for euer and all the goodly mansions of God shall then be reuealed mo ste euident and the eternall shyne of Gods maiestie shall then bee vniuersall transparent for sayeth Paul Ephe. 1. The whole misterie of the will of the Father shall then be declared according to the purpose of his owne will therefore moste blessed shall you be that shal be found watching and waiting for his comming looking vp to heauen with pure eyes of faith and lyfting vp cleane hands of righteousnes well washed at the fountaine of penance that you may be found at his appearaÌ„ce to laude glory and honour pertaking with the treasures of the heauenly misterie of the will of the father ordained in Christe Iesus who béeing the Author of our glorie whereunto hee hath called vs by his Gospell by shedding of his owne moste precious blood to bring vs to GOD and to make vs heires of his kingdoÌ„e Did not omit the least godly meanes of all to drawe vs and quicken vs by his spirit diligently and with all our indeuours to seek after his kingdome And
proceedeth a sharpe two edged sword shewing that all power Maiestie imperiall and iudgement was giuen him of his father according to that of the Reuel out of his mouth went a sharpe sword that with it he should smite the heathen which was his word which according to Paul is sharper then a two edged sworde being quicke and mightie in operation Heb. 4. entreth thorowe to the deuiding of the soule and spirit and of the ioynts and the marow and iudgeth the thoughtes and intentes of the heart and the Raine bowe about his head shewing the vndoubted signe of his true couenaÌ„t and promise in all things to be perfourmed according as hee had promised touching saluation euen as the Rainbow was a true signe and witnes of Gods iust worde neuer to destroy the world by water againe And his face did shine as the sunne in his strength and hath the keyes of hell and death shewing the shining light of the incomprehensible brightnes of his glorious maiestie and his triumphant power ouer all his enemies and ouer al powers of hel and death hauing the keyes of the kingdome euen the keyes of Dauid which openeth no man shutteth which shutteth and no man openeth and thus to the Prophetes and Apostles Chri st did shewe a consembable vision of his glorious maiestie and glorious mirrour of comming againe at the latter day therein expressing the selfe same Symbolicall glorie to be to vs if we be founde worthy at his appearance to be heyres of his Kingdome thorough righteous life according as the Angell shewed the vision of Christ vpon mount Sion howe there stoode before him a great people that coulde not be nombred Esdras 4.2 praysing the Lorde with songes and thankesgiuing and he in the middest of them being of an high stâ—â—â—eâ— most goodly most glorious and most excellent aboue them all appearing alwayes higher and higher more glorious and glorious in the incomprehensible shining and vnmeasurarable riches of all brightnesse clearenesse beautie gifâ—es treasures and noblenesse and in the infinite and endelesse power might and omnipotencie of his diuine Maiestie and Godheade setting crownes vpon their heades there crowning them with the golden Diademes of eternall glorie and palmes of euerlasting ioye for that they had truely walked in his wayes and knowledged 〈◊〉 â—efectâ— faith his holy Name euen to the death Therefore seeing by Christ we haue there arrest of our saluation and the promise to be made partakers of his godly nature and the power by his Gospel to be made the sonnes of God let vs vse all diligence towarde good life to make our calling to mount Sion to be to our ioy that when we there appeare before our eternall king of glorie we maye be fouÌ„d to be of that holy multitude that Christ with his heauenly and vnspeakeable sweete hand may set the vnspeakeable crowne of glorie vpon our heades for which cause let vs now stirre vp our hearts with the quicke eye of faith and behold him as if he were present whom shortly we shall sée with our outward and inward eyes face to face in his Godhead and glorious humanitie as before he was séene in his lowlinesse of his humane nature And then we shal behold him in his excellencie and in all marueilousnesse being exalted and aduanced in the high glory of his Father and beautified with all the euerlasting ornaments of wisedome beautie goodnes and glorie And then O how ioyfully shall we sée him how intyrely shall we loue him howe with burning flames of excéeding desire shall we couet him and what wonderfull zeale affection shall we haue to imbrace him so most amiable a god and sauiour when we shall thus looke vpon him how in steade of his crowne of thornes he is extolled to the endles mirror of Maiestie triumphing in all the great shining dignitie of God and in the Royall power ouer all powers King of kings to whome all kings and powers shall yeeld vp their glorie power ashamed of so mightie maiestie and in s teade of a Reede he hath nowe the bright euerlasting Scepter of the kingdome and the omnipotent and eternall sentence of iudgement and in steade of rebukes and reproches he is magnifies with all goodly and glorious names of God with all the wordes voyces and songs of praise laud honour and glorie for euer and in stead of his crosse nayles he is exalted in the wonderful bright and glorious shining throne and seate of power and domination and in steade of his simple garments and rent clothes and purple gowne with which they clothed and mocked him hee is nowe arayed with the euerlasting heauenly Robes of glorie and honour of Iustice and Kingly dignitie for euer And where his enemies did boast ouer him and mocked him nowe he hath reigned till his enemies be made his footestoole and hath triumphed ouer death the last enemie Oseas 13. that the saying of the Prophet may be fulfilled O death I will be thy death O hel I wil be thy sting And thus our Sauiour Christ hath perfourmed the euerlasting tryumphe ouer all his enemies they nowe bowing their knees attributing all honour glorie vnto him and with moste dreadfull feare falling flat an their faces before his shining face and high power And because he yeelded him selfe to death he hath nowe the victorie ouer death and hell for euermore And in this sorte he commeth in the most magnifical glorie of his Father prepared to the marriage of newe Ierusalem which commeth downe also from heauen from God garnis hed with the reines of the righteousnesse of Saintes prepared as a bride mos t beautifull and glorious fitte and conuenient for a precious and glorious husbande and worthie to receiue and welcome all the excellent guestes that are called to this marriage where the ioye of the godlye shall be made perfect and complete receiuing the marriage gifte the palmes of immortalitie and honour and the garland of euerlasting glorification Wherefore to consider of this our heauenly hope and ioyfull expectation of blessednesse let vs be faithfull vnto death and ouercome and Chri st hath promised to giue vs this crowne of life at his comming Thess 1.4 which shall be with Imperiall might and greatnesse according to Paul with a shout and the voyce of the Archangel and troumpe of God that the heauens and earth and all powers shall quake withall and according to Iohn Hee shall come downe from the high heauens clothed with a cleare white splendent cloude and the Raine bowe vpon his head the signe of Iustice promise mercie and iudgement and his face as it were the sunne and his feete as it were pillars of fire glistering in the most endlesse purenesse of the glorie of his father like shining fire Thes s 1.4 most incomparable And then lift vp your heads to sée his superexcellent gloriousnesse when you shall immediately be changed to immortalitie and méete him in the ayre Actes 1. when he
and true that it would moue any hart willingly to die for the Lambs sake and to suffer all afflictions rather then declyne from the companie of these heauenly Ladies which leadeth to eternall saluation Then these virgins pointed a righteous man farther to the top of Sion and there hée might sée and come to the company of them that were got vp to this fourth golden staire in Iacobs house walking boldely in perfect stablenes of all righteousnes vpon the pure glaciall sea of perseuerance patience long suffering and immutablenes as men s hewing them selues able to stand by the grace which was now giuen them and to abyde the batell to the end obteining the victory then were they redy ioyfully to enter to the high goldeÌ„ stair there to stand with the elect before Christ hauing garlands palmes of victory in their hands for a moste beautifull and glorious 5. Victory by fayth and bright Queene did sit vpon that transfulgent stayre thrusting out her heauenly hand being godly victory accompaned with eternall gladnes drawing them vp that had perseuered to the end into the glaciall sea of glorie before the Lamb Saying now come sée with Esay GOD sitting in his glorious seat and also Esdras vision performed Esay 6. When Esdras saw vpon the mount Sion a great People whome hée coulde not number and they praysed the Lord with songs of thanksgeuing and in the mid st of them Esdras 4.2 there was a young man of an high stature more excellent then all they and vpon euerie one of their heades hée set a crown and was euer higher and higher and the Angell sayd to Esdras that they were those that haue put of the mortall clothing and haue testified and knowledged the name of God vnto death therfore are now crowned and receiue the reward of immortalitie he which crowneth them and giueth them the palmes in their handes is the sonne of God whome they haue knowledged in the world and therfore they receiue glorious garments of the Lord which now beholde how Christe dooth performe it saying to you all that hath ouercum and béene faithfull vnto death in his name Reue. 3. come take you the crown of lyfe and sit with me in my seat of glorie And thus these Princes of Righteousnes dooth perswad euerie man by godly conuersation of lyfe to preace forward to obteine the mark appointed the high calling in Christe euen the very beautifull rewarde of eternall glorification For which cause that goodly Virgin and vndefiled Lady called the light of the Gospell came foorth in her golden Charriot to passe thorow out all the world saying I must go gather all Nations be they neuer so farre vnto Christe And then shée sayd Ary se ye Kings and Princes and worship the holy one of Israell who biddeth you that bee in darknes to coÌ„e into the light that you may se glorious IerusaleÌ„ the Tabernacle that neuer shall remoue for the glorious maiestie shall there bee present among vs. Therefore vp and come to the hill of the Lorde Esay 35. and to the house of the God of Iacob that you may walke in the light of the Lorde And then she passed through the middes of heauen with an euerlas ting testament preaching to all the inhabiters of the earth saying Seeke the Lorde all yee meeke hearted Sophon 1. ye that worke after his iudgoment seeke righteousnesse s eeke lowlines that ye may be defended in the wrathfull day of the Lorde Esay 66. for the hande of the Lord shall be knowrn among his seruants and his indignation among his enemies For which cause walke as it becommeth you according to the Gospel of Christ in true holinesse and purenes of conuersation that you may be found to laude honour and glorie at the great day of resurrection And then she did set vp righteousnesse in the balance and iudgement in the weightes saying Thus standeth it betweene the righteous people and the vngodly as followeth and therefore be carefull to make your election sure Esay 3. THe righteous shall enioye the fruites of their labours and studyes but wooe be to the vngodly and vnrighteous for they shall bee heauily rewarded after their workes Psalme 1. Blessed is the righteous man whose delight and exercise is in the Lawe of the Lorde for he is like a trée planted by the water side whose leafe shall neuer wither for the Lorde dwelleth among them that are righteous But as for the vngodly they are as chaffe that shall not be able to stande in the iudgement neither the sinners in the Congregation of the righteous for the way of the vngodly shall periâ—h Psalme 11. The Lorde loueth the righteous and his countenance beholdeth the Iust but the vngodly and him that delighteth in wickednesse doeth his soule abhorre yea vpon the vngodly and the vnrighteous persons he will raine fire and brimstone storme and tempest this shall be their portion to drinke Psalme 34. The eyes of the Lorde are ouer the righteous and his eares are open vnto their prayers and though great be the troubles of the righteous yet the Lorde deliuereth them out of all But the countenance of the Lorde is against the wicked and hee will destroy the vngodly and vnrighteous man Psalme 37. The Lorde knoweth the dayes of the righteous and their inheritance shall endure for euer but as for the vngodly they shall perishe for the armes and power of the vngodly shall be broken but the Lorde vpholdeth the righteous Psalme 37. The Lorde loueth the thing that is right and neuer forsaketh the godly but will haue them kept and preserued for euermore but the vnrighteous shall be punished and the seede of the vngodly shall be rooted out Galathians 6. The Righteous doeth walke after the spirite and therefore shall reape life euerlasting but the wicked doe fulfill the lustes of the flesh and sowe carnally and therefore shall reape destruction Psalme 112. The Righteous shall be had in euerlasting remembrance he shall not be afraide for any euill tidinges his heart standeth fast and beleeueth in the Lord but the wicked shall consume away and the des ire of the vngodly shall perish Esay 28. The Lorde of hostes shall be a ioyfull crowne and glorious Garlande to the remnant of his righteous people Esay 14. but he shall make the generation of the wicked to be without honour for euer Malachie 4 The daye commeth that shall burne as an Ouen and all that doe wickednesse shall be as the strawe but vnto them that feare God and seeke righteousnesse shall be health and saluation and they shall be preserued vnder the winges of the Sonne of righteousnesse Reuel 22. Blessed are the righteous for they shall taste of the wood of life and enter the gates of the holy Citie of newe glorious Ierusalem but the wicked and euill dooers shal be shut out and not suffered to come to the holy Citie Matthewe 25. Vnto the Righteous the Lorde
of euerlasting life for he that confesseth the treuth of mée before men Reuâ— 3. I will confesse his name before God and the holy Angels and hee that denyeth the treuth of me I will denye him O therfore beware and bee not féeble mynded and dismaid at yonder tempest of persecution for why hath not Christe moste louingly tolde thée that such extreame dangers shall come to passe and sayeth to the feare none of thos e thinges but holde out to the end and thou shalt be saued and crowned with eternall glorie why then wilt yâ— yéeld wilt thou now be shaken down like a figge from his figge trée O man remember thy self consider whereto thou dooest fall what art thou so nyce of thy fleshe so tender of thy skyn Be not remoued from the Gospel so feruent to Wife and Children so geuen to worldly riches and delights so bent to promotions so hastie to please men so adict to this Worlde so foolishe and madde to run with the multitude so ready to yéelde to the persecutors as to forget the day of the Lord when thou shalt altogither tremble and quake and giue an account of thy dooings what I say to thée with heauie gréef wilt thou abide no perrils no torments no imprisonment no affliction no hunger nor shame no wearines no losse of goodes no departing from fré ends no losse of life for Christes Gospell then thou maist say wo is my vntrutefulnes Wherefore pray with all instance that God may strengthen thy faith and that thou maist be endued with patience against all tribulations and that you may be preserued from dogges from Locustes and vnreasonable men And nowe while the doore of the Gos pell is open stablishe your heartes in the euerlasting consolation of faith hope loue and patience in Christ Dan. 12. And suffer aduersitie with him and with his Gospell through the power of God who hath giuen you the gift of grace For it is written that the dayes shall come in which you shall bée purifyed cleansed and tryed as golde in the fire Wherfore holde fast the patience of his name in all stormes of persecutions by looking vp ioyfully to heauen when thou art in the handes of the persecuters Reu. 6. and fettered to the stake of torments then to beholde the golden altar and see there the soules of them vnder the hande of Christ which hath suffred before you in the testimonie of Iesus Christ whether now thy soule skipping ioyfully out of thy body as one loosed out of bondage and prison do goe accompanied with Gods holy angel to those blessed soules there meeting together with praising and magnifying God vnder the golden altar for blessed are those that suffer for righteousnes sake An acceptable sacrfice to GOD And therefore consider what an acceptable sacrifice thou shalt be to God when thou shalt breath forth the swéete odours of prayers through the flaming fire or tortures of death vp before the face of God by yéelding thy life for his cause so that bee assured that thy inward ioy shall quench eat vp the outward paines and torments of death for it is written the Angel of the Lord tarrieth round about them that feare God Psalme 3. and deliuereth theÌ„ therefore feare not death for the gospels sake but suffer with christ that you may be glorified with him and so be of the nomber of them to whoÌ„ he shal s ay Come ye blessed inherite the kingdom and be crowned with the glorious garland of your glorification and so to conclude Luke â—â— Reioyce that your names are written in heauen TO THE Reader LIft vp your heades Christ is at hande Hosanna in the highest Receiue the gifte the kingdome come from heauen which is most purest The Lord doth com him selfe from heauen who is the king of kinges Arise you dead and put you on your newe immortall winges At Sion he will shewe him selfe prepare you to be there Where crownes of life and palmes of ioy the chosen then shall weare Arise therefore receiue the gifte of Gods eternall light Imbrace the ioyes beholde the face of God in open sight The holye Citie gloriously in brightnesse which excel Descendeth downe from God aboue wherein the Saintes shall dwell The wicked then shall stande without an heauie wooe to see The Lord shall say Depart ye hence you shall not be with me Arise therefore as true right heires Of that most blessed lande Sing out Hosanna in the highest Christes kingdome is at hande F. K. A PRAYER OF THANKESGIVING TO GOD THAT IT MAY PLEASE HIM TO sanctifie vs with his holy grace that we may dwell in Newe Ierusalem with a petition for our Soueraigne Queene that it may please God that she may reigne ouer vs many yeeres and after this life be crowned with the heauenly clothing of glorification WE most heartily thanke thée O Lorde God our heauenly Father for thy manifolde and inestimable benefits which thou hast giuen vnto vs both for our soules bodies and that fréely of thine owne goodnesse without our desertes wee thaÌ„ke thée that it hath pleased thée of thy great mercie to create and make vs to thine owne Image and Likenesse and being lost through the sinne of our first father Adam thou vouchsafedst of thy endlesse pitie to s aue vs and redeeme vs againe by the death and passion of thy welbeloued Sonne Iesus Christ our sweete Mediatour and Aduocate whom we looke for to come againe at the day of iudgement as a most louing Lord and Sauiour to carry vs with him into euerlasting glorie there to remaine with him worlde without end Therefore graunt vs sweete Lord God the riches of thy grace that we may haue the fruition of thy ioyes in thy heauenly kingdome of euerlasting blessednes And we beseech thée O Lord Iesus Christ which art the health of al meÌ„ liuing the euerlasting life to theÌ„ that die in thy faith to preserue 〈◊〉 thy seruant our Queene Gouernes so with thy blessed hand to fé ede â—â—â—spéede 〈◊〉 lead 〈◊〉 kéepe 〈◊〉 vnder thy holy wings that she may euermore faste the sweetenesse of thy riche mercie and great loue to the praise of thy holy Name and glorie of the Gospel and also to his glorification in the eternall kingdome of glorie And we thy seruantes and children by grace being ordeined by thee to be her faithfull subiectes doe beseech thée of thy great goodnes so to increase her with thy blessings that we may enioye him swéete gouerneâ—â—e to reigne ouer this Realme manye yeeres more in peace and tranquillitie and after this life to partake the euerlasting glorie of Christ to whome be all glorie honour and praise worlde without ende Amen GOD SAVE the 〈◊〉