mee Namely the comming of * the holy Ghost c. Iohn 14 26 §. 12. And when Iesus had spoken these things vnto his Apostles to the intent they might as well be eye-witnesses of his Ascention as records to the worlde of his Resurrection while * they beheld he was taken vp Acts. 1. 9. for a clowde tooke him out of their sight And for further suretie hereof then the bare sight of their eyes onely though that alone were of it selfe aboue all other most sufficient they heard with theyr eares the very same thing which they saw with theyr eyes further affirmed vnto them by tvvo heauenly witnesses for while they looked stedfastly after him towards heauen as hee went * behold two men stoode by thē in Acts 1 10. 11. white apparrell which also said Yee men of Galilee why stand yee gazing into heauen This Iesus which is taken vp from you into heauen shall so come as yee haue seene him goe into heauen Thus much onely to prooue according to the Scriptures the Passion Death Buriall Resurrection and Ascention of our Sauiour Christ VVhom * the Heauen Acts 3 21. must containe vntil the time that all things be restored vvhich GOD hath spoken by the mouth of all his holie Prophets since the vvorld began ¶ Of the seuerall benefites which wee haue by the Death Resurrection and Ascention of our Sauiour Christ. §. 1. AS by diuers places in the Booke of GOD we finde it manifestly affirmed that there is only but one God which alone by his owne almightie power hath made Heauen and Earth the Sea all that in them is So from the selfe same sacred Scriptures it may plainlie bee proued by the speech of the Apostle that there is onely but one Mediatour betweene God and man namely the man 1 Tim. 2. 5. 6. * Christ Iesus who gaue himselfe a raunsome for all men to be a testimonie in due time Hee alone died for our sinnes according 1 Cor. 15 3 4. to the Scriptures and he was buried and rose againe the third day according to the Scriptures Yea hee died for all that they vvhich 2 Cor 5 15 liue should not henceforth liue vnto themselues but vnto him which died for them and rose againe §. 2. Christ that he might kill death saith S. Augustine Augustine was clothed with death for death coulde not die but in life euen as that which is sower bitter dieth not but in that which is pleasant and sweet And as Elizeus made the yron to swim Cyrill which naturally sinketh so Christ by his death brought vs backe from the gates of hell which deseruedly we should haue entered Hee also by his owne death hath destroyed Heb. 2 14 15. him that had the power of death that is to say the deuil and hath deliuered all them which for feare of death remained all their life time subdued vnto bondage Yea he by his comming hath abolished 2 Tim 1 10 or put away death and brought life and immortalitie vnto light through the Gospell §. 3. O Death where is thy sting saith the 1 Cor 15 55 56 57 Apostle ô graue vvhere is thy victorie the sting of Death is sinne the strength of sinne is the Lawe but thankes be vnto God which hath giuen vs victory through our Lord Iesus Christ For hee onely deliuereth vs from the 1 Thes 1 10. wrath of God to come And to him also giue all the Prophets Acts 10 43. witnesse that through his Name all that beleeue in him should receiue the forgiuenesse of theyr sinnes §. 4. VVee were not redeemed as S. Peter 1 Pet 1 18 19 20. affirmeth with corruptible things as Siluer and Gold from our vaine conuersation which we receiued by the traditions of the Fathers but with the precious bloode of Christ as a Lambe vndefiled and without spot which was ordained before the foundation of the world but was declared in the last times c. VVho his owne selfe bare our sinnes in 1 Pet 2 24 his bodie on the tree that we being deliuered from sinne shoulde liue in righteousnesse by whose stripes we were healed For hee hath taken on him our infirmities Esay 53 4. and borne our paines He was wounded for our transgressions Esay 53 5 hee was broken for our iniquities The chastisement of our peace was vpon him and with his stripes we are made whole All wee like sheepe haue gone astray verse 6 we haue turned euery one to his own way and the Lord hath layde vpon him the iniquitie of vs all Yea God hath made him which knewe 2. Cor. 5 21. no sinne to be sinne for vs that we should be made the righteousnesse of GOD in him And those things which GOD before Acts 3 18 had shewed by the mouth of all his Prophets that Christ shoulde suffer the same hath hee fulfilled Yet was his death voluntary and not of Augustine constraint §. 5. Mankind laboureth in this world saith Bernard S. Bernard of a three-folde disease his birth his life his death The first vncleane the second sinfull the third dangerous but Christ by his cōming brought vnto vs three remedies Hee vvas borne hee liued he died His birth refined ours his life instructed ours his death ouercame ours And as a strong corrasiue layd to a sore Ierome eateth away all the rotten and dead fleshe so Christes death beeing applyed to the hart of a penitent sinner by fayth weakens consumes that corruption of sin which cleaueth so fast vnto our natures dwelleth within vs. §. 6. It was very needfull saith S. Augustine Augustine that Christ the sonne of God should both become man die for vs for two causes First to satisfie Gods iustice Secondly that hee might fulfill the truth of Gods VVord vvhich had saide That man eating the forbidden fruite shoulde die the death For surely if the sonne of God had not Beza come into the worlde in our nature sinne onely excepted and died vpon the Crosse to appease the wrath of God for mans offences wee should yet remaine subiect to eternall death and damnation But he hath loued vs hath giuen himselfe Ephe 5. 2 for vs to be an offering a sacrifice of a sweet smelling sauour vnto God Yea hee hath loued vs and washed vs Reue. 1 5. from our sinnes in his owne blood Hee also hath redeemed vs from the Gala 3 13. curse of the Law whē he was made a curse for vs. And hee likewise beeing rich for our 2. Cor 8. 9. sakes became poore that wee through his pouertie might be made rich §. 7. Christ saith S. Peter hath once suffered 1 Pet 3 18. for sinnes the iust for the vniust that he might bring vs to God and was put to death cōcerning the flesh but was quickned in the Spirit Yea euen when Christ suffered death Epiphanius
that he was not able to performe it But afterwards GOD through his great loue and mercy sent his onely Sonne Christ into the vvorld both to fulfill the Lawe and also to offer grace vnto man vvhich remained as it were vppon a scaffold where hee saw nothing but death ready to deuoure him Christ came also at such time as learning did most florish when the greatest Empire Augustine was in the cheefest pride to the ende that all worldly wisedome should acknowledge it selfe to be foolishnes all power weakenesse before him Yet came he not to bee serued but to Mar. 10 45 serue to giue his owne life for the raunsome of many Hee came likewise not to destroy the Math 5 17 Law or the Prophets but to fulfil them Neither came hee to destroy mens liues Luke 9 5. but to saue them For God sent not his Son into the world Iohn 3 17 that he should condemne the worlde but that the world throgh him might be saued And this is a true saying by al meanes 1 Tim 1 15 woorthy to be receiued that Christ Iesus came into the vvorld to saue sinners §. 3. It was a matter greatly standing with the Ierome iustice of God saith S. Ierome that Christ should come into the vvorld and become man for vs because that in the same nature whereby GOD was offended in the same nature likewise shoulde satis-faction bee made sinne was committed in mans nature and therefore it was necessarie that Christ should come in mans nature to appease the wrath of God for sinne And forasmuch also as by the right of Chrisostome creation euery man is bound in conscience to fulfill euen the very rigour and extremitie of the mortall Law but man beeing fallen from his first estate was no way able to obserue it therefore it was requisite that Christ should come become man that in mans nature hee might fulfill all righteousnes which the Law doth exact §. 4. Christ came into the world saith Becon Becon both true God true man God of God his Father from before the beginning of all time and man of vs borne of the kindred of Abraham Dauid according to Gods promise Yea true and naturall man made of our fleshe and of our blood this alone excepted that we receiued our nature with sinne and in sin by naturall coniunction but Christ receiued his humanitie of his Mother Mary the blessed Virgine without sinne without the company of any man onely by the operation of the holie Ghost For by the salutation of an Angell the Gregory Worde entred the vvombe and straight the Worde in the wombe became flesh And the same Worde beeing made flesh Iohn 1 14 dwelt among vs and wee sawe the glorie thereof as the glory of the onely begotten Sonne of the Father full of grace and truth §. 5. Furthermore it greatly behooued saith Caluine Caluine that the sonne of God should become for vs Emanuell that is God with vs that in this sort that by naturall ioyning his God-head and nature of man might grow into one together otherwise neither could the neerenesse be neere enough nor alliance strong enough for vs to hope by that God dwelleth vvith vs So great vvas the disagreement betweene our filthines the most pure cleanenes of God And although man had stoode vndefiled without any spotte yet vvas his estate too base to attaine vnto GOD without a Mediatour Besides it was no meane thing that the Caluine Mediatour had to doe for it was so to restore vs into the fauour of God as to make vs of the children of men the chyldren of God of the heires of hell the heires of the kingdome of heauen And who could do this vnlesse the sonne of God were made also the sonne of man so take ours vppon him to conceiue his into vs and to make that ours by grace which was his by nature Therefore it was for the same cause verie Caluine profitable that hee which shoulde be our Mediatour and Redeemer should be both very God and very man It was his office to swallow vp death who could doe that but Life it selfe It was his office to ouercome sinne who could do that but Righteousnes it selfe It was his office to vanquish the powers of the worlde and of the ayre who could doe that but a Power aboue both world and ayre Now in whose possession is life or righteousnes or the Empire and power of heauen Caluine but in Gods alone Therfore the most mercifull God in the person of his onelie begotten sonne made himselfe our Mediatour and Redeemer when his will vvas to haue redeemed And forasmuch therfore as neither being onely God he could feele death nor being onely man he could ouercome death hee coupled the nature of man with the nature of GOD that hee might yeelde the one subiect to death to satisfie for sinnes and by the power of the other hee might wrastle with Death and get the victory for vs. § 6. Christ came from heauen saith Gregorie Gregory into a vvomans wombe from a vvomans wombe into a Cratch or Manger from the manger to the Crosse from the Crosse to the graue from the graue he went to heauen againe Yea hee by his incarnation came downe Ambrose from heauen to vs that wee beeing made partakers of his grace might ascend vp into heauen by him And for this purpose appeared the Son 1 Iohn 3 8. of GOD that he might loose the works of the deuill Which are * Fulgentius sinne death and hell He came also that we might haue life Iohn 10 10 and that we might haue it in aboundance Finally hee came into the vvorlde to Luke 19 10 seeke and saue that which was lost And not to call the righteous but sinners Math 9 13. to repentance §. 7. Moreouer vvee knowe saith S. Iohn 1 Iohn 5 20 that the sonne of God is come hath giuen vs a mind to know him which is true and vvee are in him that is true that is in his Sonne Iesus Christ this same is verie God and euerlasting life Yea hee is come a light into the world Iohn 12 46 that who soeuer beleeueth in him shoulde not abide in darknesse Hee hath also appeared that he might 1 Iohn 3 5. take avvay our sinnes and in him is no sinne Euery spirite therefore which confesseth 1 Ioh 4 2 3 that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God And euery spirit that confesseth not that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God ¶ Of the Passion Death Buriall Resurrection and Ascention of our Sauiour Christ. §. 1. AFter that S. Peter had fully aunswered the demaund of his Maister by Math 16 16 20. cōfessing him to be Christ the sonne of the liuing God our Sauiour presently charged him and the rest of
brought life and immortalitie vnto light through the Gospell §. 11. Deerely beloued saith S. Peter I beseech 1 Pet 2 11 you as strangers and pilgrimes abstaine froÌ„ fleshly lusts which fight against the soule And haue your conuersation honest among verse 12. the Gentiles that they which speake euill of you as of euill dooers may by your good workes which they shall see glorifie God in the day of visitation Yea let your light so shine before men Math. 5 16. that they may see your good workes and glorifie your Father which is in heauen §. 12. Be sober also and watch for your aduersary 1 Pet. 5 8 9. the deuill walketh about like a roaring Lyon seeking vvhom hee may deuoure whom resist stedfast in the faith Ioyne moreouer vertue with your faith 2 Pet 1 5 6 7 8 and with vertue knowledge and vvith knowledge temperance and vvith temperance patience and with patience godlinesse and with godlines brotherly kindnes with brotherly kindnes loue For if these things be among you and abound they will make you that yee neither shall be idle nor vnfruitfull in the knowledge of our Lord Iesus Christ §. 13. Be yee therefore followers of God as Ephe. 5 1. 2. deere children and walke in loue euen as Christ hath loued vs and hath giuen himselfe for vs to be an offering and a sacrifice of a sweete smelling sauour vnto God But fornication and all vncleanenes or verse 3 4 couetousnes let it not bee once named â—mong you as it becommeth Saints neyther filthines neither foolish talking neyther iesting which are things not comelie but rather giuing of thanks For this yee know that no whoremonger verse 5. neither vncleane person nor couetous person which is an Idolater hath any inheritance in the kingdome of Christ and of God Wherefore be yee not vnwise but vnderstand Ephe 5 17 what the will of the Lord is And be not drunke with wine wherein Ephe. 5 18 19 20 21 is excesse but be fulfilled with the Spirit Speaking vnto your selues in Psalmes and hymnes and spirituall songs singing and making melodie to the Lord in your harts Giuing thanks alwayes for all things vnto God euen the Father in the Name of our Lord Iesus Christ and submitting your selues one to another in the feare of God §. 14. Flee fornication euery sinne that a man 1 Cor 6 18. doth is without the body but he that coÌ„mitteth fornication sinneth against his own bodie And who will count him iust that sinnâ—th Ecclê° 10 30 against himselfe or honour him that dishonoureth his owne soule Know ye not that your body is the temple 1 Cor 19. 20 of the holy Ghost which is in you whoÌ„ yee haue of God ye are not your own for ye are bought for a price glorifie God therefore in your body and in your spirit for they are Gods Know yee not likewise that to whomsoeuer Rom 6 16 you giue your selues as seruaunts to obey his seruaunts yee are to whom yee obey whether it be of sinne vnto death or of obedience vnto righteousnes Know you not also that all wee which Rom. 6. 4. haue been baptized into Iesus Christ haue been baptized into his death We are buried then vvith him by Baptizme into his death that like as Christ was raised vp froÌ„ the dead by the glory of the Father so we also should walke in newnes of life For all that are baptized into Christ Gala 3 27. haue put on Christ And if we be grafted with him to the similitude Rom. 6. 5. 6 7 of his death euen so shall we be to the similitude of his resurrection knovving this that our old man is crucified with him that the body of sinne might be destroyed and hence-foorth wee should not serue sinne For hee that is dead is freed from sinne Wherefore if wee be dead with Christ Rom 6 8 9. 10. 11. wee beleeue that wee shall liue also vvith him for in that hee died hee died once to sinne but in that hee liueth hee liueth to God Likewise thinke yee also that ye are dead to sinne but are aliue to God in Iesus Christ our Lord. Let not sinne raigne therefore in your verse 12 13 mortall body that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof Neither giue yee your members as weapons of vnrighteousnesse vnto sinne but giue your selues vnto God as they that are aliue from the dead giue your members as weapons of righteousnes vnto him For the wages or reward of sinne is Rom 6. 23. death but the gift of God is eternall life through Iesus Christ our Lord. Mortifie therefore your members which Colo 3 5 6 are on the earth namely fornication vncleanenes the inordinate affection euil concupiscence and couetousnes which is idolatry For the which thinges sake the vvrath of God commeth on the chyldren of disobedience §. 15. Furthermore These are the thinges Zach 8 16 17. that yee shall doe Speake yee euery man the truth vnto his Neighbour execute iudgement truly and vprightly in your gates and let none of you imagine euill in his heart against his Neighbour Neither loue any false oath for all these are the thinges that I hate saith the Lord. See that none recompence euill for euill 1 Thes 5 15 vnto any man but euer follow that which is good both toward your selues and toward all men If it be possible as much as in you is Rom 12 18 haue peace with all men And let loue be without dissimulation Rom 12 9 Abhorring that which is euill and cleauing vnto that which is good Also seeing your soules are purified in obeying the truth through the Spirit to 1. Pet 1 22. 23. loue brotherly without faining loue one another with a pure hart feruently beeing borne a newe not of mortall seede but of immortall by the word of God who liueth and endureth for euer Let all bitternes and anger and wrath crying euill speaking be put away from Ephe 4 31 32 you with all maliciousnesse And be yee curteous one to another and tender harted freely forgiuing one another euen as God for Christes sake freely forgaue you Be all of one minde one suffer with another 1. Pet. 3 8 9 loue as brethren bee pittifull bee curteous not rendering euill for euill neither rebuke for rebuke but contrariwise blesse knowing that yee are there-vnto called that yee should be heyres of blessing Blesse them which persecute you blesse Rom 12. 14 15. 16. I say curse not reioyce with them that reioyce and weepe with them that weepe Be of like affection one towards another be not hie minded but make your selues equall to them of the lower sort Be not wise in your owne eyes But rather pray vnto the most High that Ecclê° 37 15 hee will direct thy way in truth §. 16. Yee haue heard that it hath been said Math 5
the disciples that they shoulde as then tell no man that he was Iesus the Christ And from that time forth hee began to verse 20. shewe and fore-tell them of his Passion Death and Resurrection saying * The Mark 8 30 31 sonne of man must goe vnto Ierusalem suffer many things of the Elders and of the High-priests and Scribes be slaine and rise againe the third day Also in the 20. of Mathew the ninth of Luke 9 44. Marke and the eyghteene of Saint Luke besides sundry other places he ceaseth not to instruct and perfect them in this poynt bidding them * marke his words diligentlie For it shall come to passe saith he that the Sonne of man shall be deliuered into the hands of men c. Likewise being in the way going toward Mat 20 17 18 19. Ierusalem hee tooke the twelue Disciples apart and began againe to tell them what things should come vnto him saying Behold Marke 10 32 33 34 we goe vp to Ierusalem the sonne of man shall be deliuered vnto the High-priests Luke 18 31 32 33 and to the Scribes and they shall condemne him to death and shall deliuer him vnto the Gentiles And they shall mocke him and scourge him and spet vpon him and kill him but the third day he shall rise againe * For as Ionas was three Mat. 12. 40. dayes and three nights in the Whales belly so shall the sonne of man be three dayes three nights in the hart of the earth And as Moises lift vp the Serpent in the Ioh 3 14 15 wildernesse so must the Sonne of man bee lift vp that who-soeuer beleeueth in him shoulde not perrish but haue euerlasting life §. 2. After all these seuerall fore-tellings of his Passion Iesus entered into Ierusalem and Marke 11 11 15. vvent into the Temple and began to cast out them that sold and bought therein and ouerthrewe the tables of the money-changers and the seates of them that solde Doues Saying vnto them Take these thinges Iohn 2 16 hence make not my fathers house a house of merchandise For it is written My house shall be called Mat. 21. 13. the house of Prayer but ye haue made it a denne of theeues Also hee taught daily in the Temple Luke 19. 47 And the High-priestes the Scribes and the cheefe of the people sought to destroy him But they coulde not finde vvhat they verse 48 might doe vnto him for all the people hanged vpon him when they heard him §. 3. Then one of the twelue named Iudas Math 26 14 15 Iscariot vvent vnto the cheefe Priestes and said VVhat will ye giue mee and I vvill deliuer him vnto you And when they heard it they were glad Mar 14 11 and promised that they woulde giue him Math 26 15 16. money namely thirtie peeces of Siluer And from that time he sought opportunitie to betray him §. 4. Now hee that betrayed Iesus had giuen Math. 26 47. 48. them a token saying VVhom-so-euer I shall kisse that is hee lay hold on him And forth-with hee came to Iesus and said GOD saue thee Maister and kissed him Then the Bande and the Captaine and Iohn 18. 12. 13 14. the officers of the Iewes tooke Iesus and bounde him ledde him away to Annas first for he was father in lawe to Caiphas which was the high Priest that same yeere And Caiphas was he that gaue counsell to the Iewes that it was expedient that one man should die for the people §. 5. The cheefe Priestes therefore and the Mat. 26. 59. 60. 61. Elders and all the whole Counsell sought false witnesse against Iesus to put him to death but found none And though many false witnesses came yet founde they none whose witnes agreed together But at the last came two false witnesses saying Mark 14 56 57 58 59 VVee heard this man say I will destroy this Temple of God made with hands and within three dayes I will builde another made without hands But theyr witnes yet agreed not together Then the high Priest stood vp amongst Math 26 63 64 65 66. them and sayde vnto Iesus I charge thee by the liuing God that thou tell vs if thou be Christ the Sonne of God And when Iesus had told him the truth of that which he asked hee beleeued him not but presently rent his clothes saying Hee hath blasphemed what haue wee any more neede of witnesses Behold now ye Mark 14 61 62. 63 64. haue heard his blasphemy What think ye And they all condemned him to be vvorthie of death §. 6. Then spate they in his face and buffetted Math. 26. 67 Luke 22 63 64 65 him And * the men that helde Jesus mocked him and strooke him And when they had blindfolded him they smote him on the face saying Prophecie vnto vs ô Christ who is hee that smote thee And many other thinges blasphemously spake they against him Besides when the morning vvas come Mat 27 1 all the cheefe Priestes Elders of the people tooke counsel against Iesus to put him to death And they led him away bounde and deliuered verse 2. him vnto Pontius Pilate the Gouernour And they began to accuse him saying Luke 23 2 Wee haue founde this man peruerting the people and forbidding to pay tribute to Caesar saying That hee is Christ a King c. §. 7. Pilate after hee had examined Iesus and Luke 23 4 7. 11. 15. coulde finde no fault in him sent him to Herod Herod with his men of warre despised and mocked him and arrayed him in white and sent him backe againe to Pilate Pilate seeing nothing woorthy of death was done vnto Iesus by Herod assembled together the Iewes demaunded of thē Math 27 22 23 what * hee should doe with Iesus vvhich was called Christ Then aunswered they all at once saying Let him bee crucified And when he asked them saying What euill hath hee doone they cryed the more vehemently Let him be crucified So Pilate willing to content the Iewes Mark 15 15 loosed vnto them Barrabas a malefactour whō they desired and after hee had scourged Iesus deliuered him vnto the Souldiours that he might be crucified §. 8. The souldiours of the Gouernour hauing Math 27 27 28 29 Christ in theyr custody led him into the Common-hall and presently gathered about him the whole Bande and they strypped him and put vppon him a Scarlet robe Then platted they a Crowne of thornes and put it vppon his heade and a Reede in his right hande and bowed theyr knees before him mocked him saying God saue thee King of the Iewes They also spate vpon him smote him verse 30 31 on the heade with the Reede And after they had mocked him they tooke the robe from him and put his owne rayment on him and led him away to crucifie him And as they came out they found a
in his flesh vpon the Crosse the God-head and manhood vvere still together but his Godhead did not suffer that we might be iustified not onely in his flesh but also in his Diuinitie and that we might be saued both in his God-heade and manhood together For we could neuer haue beene deliuered Augustine by that one onely Mediatour between God and men the man Christ Iesus vnlesse he had beene also God The benefites which we dâ—ily receiue by Ambrose his death are foure The first is the change of our naturall death The second is in that he hath quite taken away the second death from those that are in him The third is that his death is a meanes to satisfie his last will and Testament The fourth is that it doth serue to abolish the originall corruption of our sinfull harts The meanes also of our saluation by him Augustine are two his Merrite his Efficacie The first is in that by his obedience to the Law and by his death he made full satis-faction vnto his Father for all our sinnes freed vs from death and reconciled vs vnto God The second is in that he gaue his Spirit to mortifie the corruption of our natures that we thereby may daily die vnto sin and liue vnto righteousnes haue true comfort in terrors of conscience and in the pangs of death Beleeuing assuredly that what-so-euer Caluine Christ hath suffered hee hath suffered for vs and that all his righteousnes through fayth is made our righteousnesse For hee himselfe alone hath fully discharged by his death the debt which all vvee owed and hath made vs by his obedience the sonnes of God fellow heires with him of euerlasting glory For hee hath put out the hand-vvriting Colos 2 14 15. that was against vs contained in the Lawe written which was contrary to vs he euen tooke it out of the way fastned it vpoÌ„ the crosse hath spoiled the Principalities Powers hath made a shew of theÌ„ openly triumphing ouer theÌ„ in the same crosse §. 8. The Lawe saith S. Iohn was giuen by Iohn 1. 17. Moises but Grace and Truth came by Iesus Christ For God sending his owne sonne in the Rom 8 3 similitude of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sinne in the flesh that the righteousnesse of the Lawe might be fulfilled in vs which walke not after the flesh but after the spirit And wee through the spirit waite for Gala 5 5 the hope of righteousnes through faith Be it knowne vnto you therefore men Acts 13 38 39 brethren that through this man Christ is preached vnto vs the forgiuenesse of sinnes from all things from which we could not be iustified by the Law of Moises by him euery one that beleeueth is iustified For the Lawe made nothing perfit but Heb 7 19. the bringing in of a better hope made perfect whereby we draw neere vnto God And albeit that we in time past beeing Ephe. 2. 11. 12. 13. Gentiles and vncircumcised people in the flesh were indeede without Christ and were aliants from the common-wealth of Israell and strangers from the couenaunts of promise and had no hope and were without God in the world yet nowe by the meanes of Christ Iesus we which once were farre off are made neere by the blood of Christ For hee being our peace hath made of Ephe 2. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. both one and hath broken down the stop of the particion Wall that was betweene the Iewes and vs in abrogating through his flesh the hatred namely the Lawe of Commaundements which standeth in ordinances for to make of twaine one nevv man in himselfe so making peace And that he might reconcile both vnto God in one body thorow his Crosse and sley hatred thereby he came preached peace both to vs vvhich were a farre off and to them also that were neere For through him vvee both haue an entrance vnto the Father by one spirit And GOD vvhich is rich in mercie through his great loue wherewith he loued Ephe 2 â— 5 6 7. vs euen wheÌ„ we were dead by sinnes hath quickned vs both Iewes and Gentiles together in Christ by whose grace we are saued and hath raised vs vp together and made vs sitte together in the heauenly places in Christ Iesus That he might shew in the ages to come the exceeding riches of his grace through his kindnes towards vs in Christ Iesus Not by the vvorkes of righteousnesse Titus 3 5 6 7. which we had doone but according to his mercie hee saued vs by the washing of the newe birth and the renewing of the holie Ghost which he shed on vs aboundantlie through Iesus Christ our Sauiour that we beeing iustified by his grace shoulde bee made heires according to the hope of eternall life For God so loued the vvorlde that hee Ioh 3 16. hath giuen his onely begotten Sonne that whosoeuer beleeueth in him shoulde not perrish but haue euerlasting life And heerein was the loue of God made 1. Ioh 4 9. manifest amongst vs in that hee sent his onely begotten sonne into the world that we might liue through him Yea heerein is loue not that wee loued 1 Ioh. 4. 10. GOD but that he loued vs and sent his Son to be a reconcilâ—ation for our sinnes For Christ vvhen we vvere yet of no Rom 5 6 strength at his time died for the vngodly And hee beeing very God equall vvith Philip. 2. 6 7 8. the Father in power and glory made himselfe notwithstanding of no reputation taking on him the forme of a seruaunt and was made like vnto men and was found in shape as a man Hee humbled himselfe became obedient vnto the death euen the death of the Crosse That hee might heâ—eby deliuer vs from the wrath of God and from the danger of Becon eternall damnation whereunto through our Father Adams transgression vvee all remained subiect Likevvise then as by the sinne of one Rom 5 18. namely Adam there sprang vp euill on all men to condemnation euen so by the righteousnesse of one namely Christ â—pringeth good vpon all men to the righteousnes of life For as by one mans disobedience many verse 19 were made sinners so by the obedience of one shall many also be made righteous §. 1. CHrist saith the Apostle is risen from 1 Cor. 15. 20. the dead was made the first fruites of them that slept For since by man came death by man verse 21 22 came also the resurrection of the dead and â—â— in Adam all die euen so in Christ shall 〈◊〉 be made aliue Yea Christ himselfe and no other for him did by his owne power raise himselfe Augustine to life Which proueth that hee was not onely man but also true God VVherefore if he were able to giue lyfe Ierome vnto himselfe beeing deade and buried then much more now beeing aliue and in
that beleeueth in the Sonne of God 1 Iohn 5. 10 hath the witnes of God in himselfe hee that beleeueth not God hath made him a lyer because hee beleeued not the record that God witnessed of his Sonne And this is the record that God hath verse 11 12 giuen vnto vs euerlasting life and this life is in his Sonne Hee that hath the Sonne hath life and hee that hath not the Sonne of God hath not life These thinges haue I written vnto you 1 Iohn 5. 1â— that beleeue in the Name of the Sonne of GOD that yee may know that yee haue euerlasting life and that ye may beleeue in the Name of the Sonne of God For hee that shall beleeue and be baptized Mar. 16. 16. shall be saued but he that will not beleeue shall be damned §. 11. S. Paule going about in his Epistle to the Galathians to prooue our iustification to come onely by the grace and mercie of God through fayth in Iesus Christ not by the works of the Law beginneth thus VVee * which are Iewes by nature and Gala. 2. 15. 16. not sinners of the Gentiles knowe that a man is not iustified by the vvorkes of the Law but by the faith of Iesus Christ Euen wee I say haue beleeued in Iesus Christ that wee might be iustified by the fayth of Christ and not by the works of the Lawe because that by the works of the Lawe no flesh shall be iustified But wee beleeue to be saued through Acts 15. 11. the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ For as many as are of the workes of the Gala. 3. 10. Law are vnder the curse For it is written Cuâ—sed is euery man that continueth not in all things which are written in the booke of the Law to doe them And that no man is iustified by the lawe Gala 3 11. in the sight of God it is euident for the iust shall liue by fayth I through the Law saith he am dead to Gala 2 19. 20. the Law and that I might liue vnto God I am crucified with Christ Neuerthelesse I liue yet not I now but Christ liueth in mee and in that that I nowe liue in the flesh I liue by the faith in the Son of God vvho hath loued mee and giuen himselfe for mee I do not abrogate the grace of God for verse 21. if righteousnes be by the lawe then Christ died without a cause But nowe is the righteousnes of GOD Rom 3 21 22 made manifest without the Lawe hauing witnes of the Law of the Prophets To wit the righteousnes of God by the fayth of Iesus Christ vnto all and vpon all that beleeue For by grace we are saued through faith Ephe 2 8 9 and that not of our selues it is the gift of God Not of works least any man should boast himselfe §. 12. If Abraham saith the same Apostle Rom 4 2 3. were iustified by works he hath wherin to reioyce but not with God For what saith the Scripture Abraham beleeued God it was counted to him for righteoushes Now to him that worketh the wages is verse 4 5 not counted by fauour but by debt but to him that worketh not but beleeueth in him that iustifieth the vngodly his fayth is counted for righteousnes For * Gregory onely beleeuing is righteousnes Besides it is not vvritten for Abraham Rom 4 23 24 25. onely that it was imputed to him for righteousnes but also for vs to whom it shall be imputed for righteousnesse which beleeue in him that raised vp Iesus our Lord from the dead who was deliuered to death for our sinnes and is risen againe for our iustification Knowe yee therefore that they vvhich Gala 3 7 are of fayth the same are the chyldren of Abraham For the Scripture fore-seeing that God verse 8 9. would iustifie the Gentiles through fayth preached before the Gospell vnto Abraham saying In thee shall all the Gentiles be blessed So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithfull Abraham For the promise that hee should be the Rom 4 13 heire of the world was not giuen to Abraham or to his seede through the Law but through the righteousnes of fayth For if verse 14 they which are of the Law be heires faith is made voyde and the promise is made of none effect For the Law causeth wrath but vvhere verse 15. no Law is there is no transgression By the lawe also commeth the knowledge Rom 3 20. of sinne Nay I knew not sinne but by the lavve Rom. 7 7. for I had not knowne lust except the law had said Thou shalt not lust Therefore is the promise by faith that it Rom. 4 16. might come by grace and the promise might bee sure vnto all the seede not to that onely which is of the lawe but also to that which is of the faith of Abraham who is the father of vs all §. 13. Doe wee then make the lawe of none effect Rom 3 31 through fayth God forbid yea vvee rather establish the law For the doctrine of faith is the ornament Caluine of the lawe and by it wee embrace Christ who by his death hath fully satisfied the lawe So that the law which could not bring vs to saluation by reason of our owne corruption is nowe made effectuall to vs by the meanes of Christ Iesus Iâ— the lawe then against the promise of Gala 3 21 22. God God forbid For if there had been a lawe giuen which coulde haue giuen life surely righteousnes shoulde haue beene by the law But the Scripture hath concluded all vnder sin that the promise by the faith of Iesus Christ shoulde be giuen to them that beleeue But before faith came we were kept vnder verse 23. the law shut vp vnto the faith which should afterward be reuealed Wherefore the lawe was our Schoolemaister verse 24 to bring vs to Christ that vvee might be made righteous by fayth But after that fayth is come we are no longer vnder a Schoole-maister for wee are all the sonnes of God by faith in Iesus Christ Not that the doctrine or any commaundement Caluine of God in the law concerning vertuous life is abolished but that all Iewish Ceremonies are nowe ceast and the curse or condemnation of the lawe which vvas due vnto vs for our sinnes is cleane taken avvay through fayth in our Redeemer Christ Iesus Who came into the world as hath already Math 5 17. been shewed not to destroy the law or the prophets but that he might fulfil them VVee conclude therefore that a man is Rom 3. 28. iâ—stisâ—â—d by faith vvithout the vvorkes of the Lawe And beeing iustifieâ—d by faith wee haue Rom 5 1 2 peace with God through our Lord Iesus Christ by whom also â— vvee haue acâ—esse through fayth vnto this grace whereiâ— we stanâ—â— and reioyce vnder the hope
learne in youth then in age to be vnskilfull §. 6. Sanctifie the Lorde God in your harts 1 Pet 3 15. 16. saith the Apostle and be ready alwayes to giue an aunswere to euery man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you and that with meekenes reuerence hauing a good conscience that when they speake euill of you as of euill dooers they may be ashamed which blame your good conuersation in Christ Yea let the vvord of Christ dwell in Colos 3. 16. you plenteously in all wisedome teaching and admonishing your owne selues in Psalmes and Hymnes spirituall songs singing with a grace in your harts vnto the Lord. And whatsoeuer yee shall doe in vvord verse 17. or in deed do all in the Name of the Lord Iesus giuing thanks to God euen the Father by him For God is a Spirit and they that worship Iohn 4. 24 him must worship him in spirit and truth He is likewise a God of wonderfull great Tertullian power might and majestie and therefore we ought alwaies to serue him truely with feare and reuerence §. 7. I beseech you brethren by the mercies Rom 12. 1. 2. of God saith S. Paule that yee giue vp your bodies a liuing sacrifice holy acceptable to GOD which is your reasonable seruing of God And fashion not your selues like vnto this world but be ye changed by the renewing of your minde that yee may proue vvhat is the good vvill of God and acceptable and perfect Lay apart all filthines and superfluitie Iames 1 21. 22. of maliciousnes and receiue with meekenesse the vvorde vvhich is grafted in you which is able to saue your soules And bee yee dooers of the vvord and not hearers onely deceiuing your selues For if any man heare the word doe verse 23 24 it not he is like vnto a man that beholdeth his naturall face in a glasse For when hee hath considered himselfe he goeth his way and forgetteth immediatly what manner of one hee was But who so looketh in the perfect Lawe verse 2◠of libertie and continueth therein he not beeing a forgetfull hearer but a dooer of the worke shall be blessed in his deede For the hearers of the Law are not righteous Rom 2. 13 before God but the dooers of the lawe shall be iustified And not euery one that saith vnto Christ Math 7 21. Lord Lord shall enter into the kingdome of heauen but hee that doth the will of God which is in heauen Take heede therefore that yee vvalke Ephe 5. 15. 16 circumspectly not as fooles but as wise redeeming the time for the dayes are euill That is that ye cast off concerning the Ephe 4 22 23 24 conuersation in time past the olde man which is corrupt through deceiueable lusts and be renewed in the spirit of your mind And put on the newe man which after God is created in righteousnes true holinesse For the grace of GOD that bringeth Titus 2. 11. 12. saluation to all men hath appeared and teacheth vs that we should denie vngodlines and worldly lusts and that we should liue soberly righteously and godly in this present world Looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the mightie God verse 13. 14. and of our sauiour Iesus Christ who gaue himselfe for vs that hee might redeeme vs from all iniquitie and purge vs to be a peculier people vnto himselfe zealous of good workes §. 8. Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered ◠Pet. 4 1. for vs in the flesh arme your selues likewise vvith the same minde which is that hee vvhich hath suffered in the fleshe hath ceased from sinne that hee hence-foorth should liue as much time as remaineth in verse 2. 3 the flesh not after the lusts of men but after the will of God For it is sufficient for vs that wee haue spent the time past of the life after the lust of the Gentiles walking in wantonnes lusts in excesse of wines in excesse of eatings in excesse of drinkings and in abhominable Idolatries Therefore if any man be in Christ let 2. Cor. 5. 17. him be a newe creature For they that are Christes haue crucified Gala 5 24 the flesh with the affections the lusts §. 9. The night saith the Apostle is past Rom 13 12 13. 14 the day is at hand let vs therefore cast away the works of darknes let vs put on the Armour of light so that we walke honestly as in the day not in gluttony and drunkennes neither in chambering and wantonnesse nor in strife enuying But put yee on the Lord Iesus Christ take no thought for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof * For if yee liue after the flesh ye Rom 8 13 shal die but if yee mortifie the deedes of the body by the Spirit ye shall liue VValke then I say in the Spirit and yee Gala. 5. 16 17 shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh for the flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh and these are contrary one to another so that ye cannot doe the same things that ye would Striue therefore to enter into heauen at Luke 13 24 the straite gate for many will seeke to enter in and shall not be able §. 10. If yee be risen with Christ seeke those Colo 3 1 2 things which are aboue vvhere Christ sitteth at the right hande of God Set your affections on thinges which are in heauen and not on things which are on the earth Gird vp the loynes of your minde be sober and trust perfectly on the grace that is 1 Pet 1 13. 14 15 16. brought vnto you by the reuelation of Iesus Christ as obedient children not fashioning your selues vnto the former lusts of your ignoraunce but as hee vvhich hath called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of conuersation because it is written Be yee holy for I am holy Let no corrupt communication proceed Ephe. 4. 29. out of your mouthes but that vvhich is good to the vse of edifying that it may minister grace vnto the hearers For euill speakings corrupt good manners 1 Cor 15 33. And those thinges are alwaies vnhonest Iraeneus to be spoken of vvhich are filthy to bee done Onely let your conuersation be as it becommeth Philip. 1. 27 the Gospell of Christ That ye may walke worthy of the Lord Colos 1 10 and please him in all things beeing fruitefull in all good works and increasing in the knowledge of God Who hath saued vs and called vs with 2. Tim 1 9. 10 an holy calling not according to our workes but according to his owne purpose and grace which was giuen to vs through Christ Iesus before the vvorlde was but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Sauiour Iesus Christ who hath as I haue already declared abolished death and hath
Our warre-weapons and armour is the shielde of fayth the sworde of the Spirit the brest-plate of righteousnesse and the helmet of saluation The reward of conquest is a crowne of Rauisius life to him that ouer-coÌ„meth which God himselfe hath promised to euery man that perseuereth in vvell-dooing to the end But hee that coward-like leaueth the battaile and forsaketh the fielde shall be pursued spoyled and made a pray to his infernall enemy For no man that striueth for a maisterie 2 Tim 2. 5 shall be crowned except hee striue as hee ought to doe Neyther is hee that putteth his hande to Luke 9 62. the plowe and afterward looketh backe any meete member for the kingdome of God §. 12. If vve suffer with Christ wee shall also 2. Tim. 2. 12 raigne with him but if wee denie him hee also will denie vs. And looke vvith what courage a Christian Pet. Mar. in the time of his triall shall confesse the truth and acknowledge Christ to be his Captaine with as great consolation inward ioy shal his conscience be comforted at the houre of death when his soule is forsaking the prison of his bodie For this is thanke-worthy if a man for 1. Pet 2 19. conscience toward God endure greefe suffer wrong vndeserued §. 13. Take my brethren the Prophets saith Iames 5 10. Saint Iames for an ensample of suffering aduersitie of long patience which haue spoken in the Name of the Lord. And let likewise that generall testimonie which the Writer to the Hebrues giueth in commendation of all the Saints of the olde Testament sufficiently moue vs to be perfectly patient in all our tribulations according to their example where he saith Some of them were tryed by mockings Hebr 11 36 37 38 and scourging some by bondes and imprisonment some were stoned some vvere hewen in sunder some were tempted some were slaine with the sword som went vp and downe in Sheepes skinnes Goates-skinnes in great neede afflicted tormented vvandering in Wildernesses in Mountaines in Dennes and in hollowe Caues of the earth the World not beeing worthy of them Others also were racked woulde not Hebr. 11 35 be deliuered that they might receiue a better resurrection §. 14. Besides these we finde also that the Apostle S. Paule himselfe his fellow seruaunts vnder Christ in the Newe-testament are most worthy examples to be remembred For in diuers places of his Epistles hee spareth not to speake both of his owne and the rest of the disciples sufferings but for himselfe onely in his Epistle to the Corinthians he saith I take pleasure 2. Cor. 12. 10. in infirmities in reproches in necessities in persecutions and in anguish for Christes sake for vvhen I am vveake then am I strong Likewise in the Acts we read that when he was fore-told by a certaine Prophet named Acts 21 11 12. Agabus what trouble shoulde befall him at Ierusalem he desisted not from his iourney thether but rather reproued them that sought with teares to perswade him to the contrarie saying * What doe you verse 13 weeping and breaking mine hart For I am ready not to be bound onely but also to die at Ierusalem for the Name of the Lord Iesus For Christ is to mee both in life and in Philip 1 21 death aduantage And I count all things to be losse and Phil. 3 8 9. iudge them to be dunge that I may winne Christ and be found in him §. 15. Also in the afore-named Epistle to the Corinthians both in the behalfe of himselfe and the rest of his fellow helpers he saith Brethren wee would not haue you 2. Cor. 1. 8. 9 ignorant of our affliction which came vnto vs in Asia how we were pressed out of measure passing strength so that we altogether doubted euen of life Yea wee receiued the sentence of death in our selues because wee should not trust in our selues but in God which raiseth the dead Againe in the 4. chapter of the same 2 Cor 4 8 9 Epistle he saith Wee are afflicted on euerie side yet are we not in distresse we are in doubt but yet we despaire not wee are persecuted but not forsaken cast downe but we perrish not Euery where wee beare about in our bodie verse 10 11 the dying of the Lord Iesus that the life of Iesus might also be made manifest in our bodies for wee which liue are alwaies deliuered vnto death for Iesus sake that the life also of Iesus might be made manifest in our mortall flesh As it is written For thy sake ô Lorde Rom 8 36. are we killed all the day long we are counted as sheepe appoynted to be slaine Neuerthelesse in all these things wee are verse 37 more then conquerours through him that loued vs. §. 16. VVherefore let vs also seeing that wee Heb 12 1 2 are compassed with so great a clowde of witnesses cast away euery thing that presseth downe and the sinne that hangeth so fast on Let vs run with patience the race that is set before vs looking vnto Iesus the authour and finisher of our fayth who for the ioy that was sette before him endured the crosse and despised the shame and is set at the right hand of the throne of God Consider therfore him that endured such verse 3 speaking against of sinners least ye should be wearied and faint in your mindes Cast not away your confidence vvhich Heb 10 35. 36 37. hath great recompence of reward for wee haue neede of patience that after yee haue done the will of God ye might receiue the promise For yet a very little while hee that shall come wil come will not tarry Be patient therefore brethren vnto the comming of the Lord. Behold the husbandman Iames 5 7 8 waiteth for the precious fruite of the earth and hath long patience for it vntill he receiue both the former the latter raine Be yee also patient therefore settle your harts for the coÌ„ming of the Lord draweth neere And the GOD of all grace which hath 1 Pet 5 10 called vs vnto his eternall glory by Christ Iesus after that yee haue suffered a little make you perfect confirme strengthen and stablish you For if wee liue wee liue vnto the Lord Rom 14 8 if we die we die vnto the Lord so that whether we liue or die we are the Lords And none neede to feare death saue Socrates those which haue committed so much wickednes as after death deserueth damnation §. 17. Wherfore let them that suffer according 1 Pet 4 19 to the will of God coÌ„mit their soules vnto him in wel doing as vnto a faithful Creator And let all the troubles that can come Pet. Lomb. vppon thee for thy good conuersation in Christ be borne with boldnes comforted with confidence vnder-propped with patience For the necessary patience of him that Ecclê°
7 saith Salomon and blessed shall his children be after him The path of the righteous is to decline Prou 16 17 from euill and hee keepeth his soule that keepeth his way The way of the wicked is abhomination Prou. 15. 9 vnto the Lord but he loueth him that followeth righteousnes And better is the poore that walketh in Prou. 28 6. his vprightnes then he that peruerteth his wayes though hee be rich For there can be no greater gaine then Bullenger the good that commeth by godlinesse nor any sweeter comfort then the inward solace of an vnpolluted soule §. 22. The way of the righteous shineth as the Prou. 4. 18 light which shineth more and more vnto the perfect day And vnto them ariseth light in darknes Psal 112 4 Through his religious knowledge and Pacuuius vnderstanding the godly man shal diuers wayes be helpfull to others by his own vertues hee shall be able to withstand many vices For the righteousnes of an vpright man Prou 11 5 ordereth his way It preserueth him in his life * And causeth Prou. 13. 6 Prou 14 32 him to haue hope in his death It also deliuereth from death Prou 11 4 And defendeth the faithfull from eternall Pet. Mar. destruction For hee that walketh or continueth to Prou 28 18 the end in his vprightnes shall be saued And there is no confusion vnto them Dan 3 40 that put theyr trust in God §. 23. Doubtlesse saith Marlorate diuers are Marlorate the fauours and many the mercies which almightie GOD sheweth vnto the godly heere in this life but most vnspeakeable are the sundry consolations which through fayth they feele in conscience at the verie houre of theyr death Marke as Dauid saith the vpright man Psal 37 37 behold the iust for the end of that man is peace And the last houre of his life is the first Cyrill houre of his soules entrance into endlesse felicitie §. 24. Thus much in effect Balaam the lucrelouing Prophet could confesse to be true vnto the comfort of other men though hee himselfe walked in the way of wickednes when hee saide * Oh that my soule Num 23 10 might die the death of the righteous and that my last end might be like his For as many as in this life beleeue in Christ and keepe his doctrine * they shall Iohn 8 51. neuer see death Nor come into condemnation but haue Iohn 5 24 euen as it were alreadie passed froÌ„ death vnto life They finde by experience that the true seruice of GOD giueth inward testimonie Mar. Bucer of eternall saluation vnto theyr soules vvhere-vnto all worldly wealth is not worthy to be compared and that the peace of conscience excelleth al earthly possessions Death vnto them is no death but rather Erasmus a long-desired releasement from their many molestations in this life a most pleasant passage into the Paradise of GOD. VVhere with a number more then may bee numbred of Patriarchs Prophets Apostles Saints and holy Martyrs they shall be made partakers of euer-during happinesse and continue alwayes in the company of Christ Iesus theyr most mercifull Protector VVherfore if thou desire to prosper in Origen thy life and to speede well at thy death bestow thy studie in the lawe of the Lord practise to please him according to his precepts For it is a pleasure full of profit a solace Plotinus voyde of all sorrow for a man to giue his minde to godly meditation §. 25. Light saith the Psalmist is sowen for Psal 97 11 the righteous and ioy for the vpright in hart To euery man that doth good shall be Rom. 2. 10. glory and honour and peace And to the righteous God will recompence Prou. 13 21 good For GOD greatly esteemeth vertuous Socrates people though in this worlde they be little set by For them are good things created from Ecclê° 39 25 the beginning and euill thinges for the vvicked For them is euerlasting rest and glorie 2. Esdr 8 59 made ready but thirst and paine is long since prepared of God for the vngodly Yea the Lord himselfe hath promised 2. Esdr 8. 39. that he wil reioyce in the wayes of the righteous and that hee will remember the pilgrimage the saluation and the revvard that they shall haue For glorious is the fruite of good labours Wisd 3 15 and the roote of wisedome shal neuer fade away §. 26. Theyr first felicitie after this life is the Iust Mar. sweete rest quiet peace that their soules possesse in Christ But the second shall be the immortalitie and glory both of theyr body and soule together at the day of generall iudgement when with triumphant ioy they shall in the sight of all their enemies receiue openly theyr portion in the kingdome of perpetuall blessednes For they shall liue for euer their reward Wisd 5. 15. also is with the Lord and the most High hath care of them Therefore shall they receiue a glorious verse 16. kingdome and a beautifull crowne at the Lords hand for with his right hand shall he couer them and with his arme shall hee defend them Their recompence or reward consisteth Constantiuâ— not onely in Gods grace and fauour towards them during this life but also in his most mercifull receiuing them into eternall felicitie and safe preseruing them froÌ„ the danger of damnation which is the second death of the vngodly So that heauen is not onely the seate of Erasmus Gods glory and the habitation of his holie Angels but it is also the resting place of the faithfull and the inheritance of all his Saints §. 27. The certaine truth vvhereof is further vvitnessed vnto vs by the words of Christ himselfe where among many other petitions made vnto his Father both for himselfe and the faithfull in the end hee concludeth his speech with this saying * Father Iohn 17 24 I will that they which thou hast giuen mee be with mee euen where I am that they may beholde my glory vvhich thou hast giuen mee Also in another place he sayth * If any Iohn 12 26 man serue mee let him followe mee for where I am there shall also my seruant be and who-soeuer serueth mee him will my Father honour And what honour receiued from anie Tertullian Prince in this vvorld be it neuer so great is worthy any way to be compared vnto the least honour vvhich the seruaunts of GOD shall receiue from theyr Creator in the kingdome of Heauen VVhere life shall not be limitted vnto Beda them by number of monthes or yeeres nor theyr pleasures appointed at certaine times and seasons but as God himselfe is without any ending so shall theyr life be euerlasting And as his power endureth perpetually so shall their pleasures last continually §. 28. For it is a thing agreeable to reason that