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
make whole and there is none that can deliuer out of mine hand I destroy the tokens of the Soothsayers Esay 44. 25 and make them that coniecture fooles I turne the Wisemen backward and make theyr knowledge foolishnes I forme the light and create darknesse Esay 45 7. I make peace and create euill I the Lord saith hee doe all these things §. 8. Our God is in heauen faith Dauid and Psal 115. 3 he doth whatsoeuer pleaseth him The heauen is his seate and the earth is Esay 66. 1. his footestoole Hee remaineth for euer his throne is Lam. 5 19. frō generation to generation * And there 1. Sam. 2 2. is no God like our God For hee as Salomon saith hath the Wisd 16. 13 power of life and death he leadeth down euen to the gates of hell and bringeth vp againe §. 9. God that made the world and all things Acts 17 24 25. that are therein saith the Apostle seeing that he is Lord of heauen and earth dwelleth not in Temples made with hands neither is he worshipped with mens hands as though he needed any thing seeing he giueth to all life and breath and all things For in him we liue and mooue and haue verse 28. our beeing Yea hee as Plato saith by his almighty Plato power is in all things and in euery part of the world by his prouidence all things are preserued gouerned and moued and hee himselfe is of none other either mooued or gouerned but is the first incomprehensible mouer The eyes of all things waite vpon him Psalm 145. 15 16. and he giueth them theyr foode in due season hee openeth his hand and filleth with his blessing euery liuing thing But if he hide his face they are troubled Psalm 104 29. if hee take away their breath they die and returne to their dust For in his hand is the soule of euerie lyuing Iob 12. 10. thing and the breath of all mankind §. 10. The earth is the Lords saith Dauid and Psal 24. 1 all that therein is the world is his and so are all they that dwell therein Prosperitie and aduersitie life and death Ecclus 11 14 15. pouertie and riches come of the Lorde Wisedome and knowledge and vnderstanding of the Lawe are all of the Lord loue and good workes come of him For hee only is the Authour of all goodnesse Hermes and the giuer of all good gifts Yea euery good and perfect gift as Saint Iames. 1. 17. Iames saith is from aboue and commeth downe from the Father of lights with whō is no variablenesse neyther shadowe by turning For the diuine nature and substance of Aristotle God suffereth neither change nor end because as Aristotle truly sayth it is both immutable and infinite §. 11. To come to preferment also is neyther Psalm 75. 6 7. from the East nor from the West nor yet from the South but the Lorde as Dauid saith is the Iudge hee putteth downe whō he will and hee setteth vp whom hee pleaseth It is the Lorde that giueth and it is the Iob 1 21 Lord that taketh away euen as it pleaseth the Lord so commeth things to passe §. 12. VVe read in the second booke of chronicles that when Asa King of Iudah was 2. Chron. 14 9 10 11. vrged to giue battaile against an Armie of tenne hundred thousand Ethiopians first before he beganne the fight hee made his humble supplication to the Almighty and in his prayer to shewe that the conquest consisted not in the great companie of his enemies souldiers but only in the might power of him that made both heauen and earth he said Help vs ô Lord our God It is nothing with thee to saue with manie or with no power helpe vs ô Lorde our God for we rest on thee and in thy Name saith hee are wee come against this multitude Ionathan likewise venturing by stealth 1. Sam. 14 6 to set vppon the Philistians garison at vnawares and beeing accompanied with none but onely his Armor bearer for his better encouragement he told him that it was not hard with the Lord to saue with many or with few For the victorie of the battell dependeth 1. Mac. 3. 19. not on the many thousands that are in the host but the strength commeth from heauen And is onely at his pleasure to be disposed whose power as * Iudith saith standeth Iudith 9 11. not in the multitude of Souldiers nor his might in strong men As may more at large be perceiued by reading the happy successe which folowed the enterprises of the aforesaide King Asa and Ionathan the Sonne of Saule against theyr enemies §. 13. Another example also concerning the power of Almightie God in this poynt is set downe in the booke of Iudges where Iudges 7 12 Gedion beeing appointed by the Lord to goe fight against the Midianites which were so mightie an host that as the Text sayth they lay in the valley like a company of Grashoppers and theyr Cammels were without number as is the sand by the Sea-side for multitude mustred vp an Armie Iuges 7. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. of thirty two thousand men And when he had done thus the Lord God called vnto him and said Gedion the people that are with thee are too many for me to giue the Midianites into theyr handes least Israell make their vaunt against me say Mine hand hath saued me Now therefore saith the most Mightie proclaime in the audience of the people and say Whosoeuer he be that is timerous or fearefull let him returne and depart Then saith the Text there departed of the people twentie two thousand and ten thousand remained And the Lord called againe vnto Gedion and sayd The people are yet too manie bring them therefore downe vnto the water I will try them for thee there and of whom I say vnto thee this man shal goe with thee the same shall goe with thee and of whomsoeuer I say vnto thee this man shall not goe with thee the same shall not goe So Gedion according as he was commaunded brought downe the people to the water and the Lord said vnto him As many as thou shalt see to lap the water with theyr tongues as a dogge lappeth put thē by themselues and euery one that shal bow downe on his knees to drinke put them likewise apart Now among those tenne thousand that came to the water to drink there was found but onely three hundred which lapped the vvater by putting their handes to theyr mouthes by which 300. men God most miraculously saued Israel deliuered the Midianites into their hands So that both by this example the former that sentence of our Sauiour is verified where hee sayth * The things which Luke 18 27 are vnpossible with men are possible with GOD. And surelie as Plato sayth hee alone is Plato most worthy to be taken for
flash and the largest date of his daies to no longer abiding then a bauens blaze And with good consideration also dyd that Wiseman silently make aunswere who beeing demaunded what he thought of the life of man Suddainly turned himselfe about before them that asked the question Solon and presently departed out of their sight Giuing them thereby to vnderstand that our life is no more but onely a turne about and of short continuance §. 5. Short is Mans life saith Aurelius and Mar. Aur. vpon very short and suddaine vvarning we are commaunded to leaue the Worlde to close our eyes and to follow the common course of death Yea assoone as thou art borne to possesse the earth incontinent Death issueth Basill out of his Sepulcher to finde thee and although thou art vncertaine and knovvest neyther when nor where he will meet thee yet must thou remember that alwayes and in euery place he seeketh for thee And when thy last howre is come necessitie Polion carrieth thee hence though thou bee neuer so much vnwilling to depart For Death is a thing that cannot bee Pythagoras eschewed and therfore it ought of all men the lesse to be feared §. 6. VVhat man liuing in this vvorld saith Thales Thales can eyther by his power or policie preuent the suddaine stroake of death or vvho can assure himselfe of so much certaintie as to performe tomorrow what he left vndone to day For man hath no assurance of his owne life but liues vncertaine of his last howre finding nothing in this world that he may boldly leane or trust vnto Hee vvanders alwayes vp and downe Socrates among most vncertaine and doubtfull chaunces onely comforting his mind with hope but neuer knowing certainlie vvhat shall befall him or howe when or where he shall leaue his carkasse When hee goeth out of his house hee is Seneca not sure to returne into the same againe and when he entereth into his house hee is asmuch vncertaine to goe foorth againe Likewise when he sitteth downe to meate he knoweth not that he shal rise vp againe and lying down in his bed at night he cannot promise to come safe from thence the next morning But this thing onely of all other in the Demonax world is most certaine to man that death is common to all though to some one way and to some another §. 7. Lastly if we well weigh with our selues how fraile short and vncertaine the life of man is we shall finde small cause to blame Zerxes that great King of Persia for weeping wheÌ„ from the toppe of an high Hill hee behelde his whole Army and fell into this remembrance with himselfe that within fewe yeeres following there should not one man among so many thousands in that huge company be left aliue With as little reason also may vvee reproue Thales the Philosopher for saying The life of man is no more but euen as it were the shooting of a starre that passeth at a trice and is quickly gone out of sight and within a little vvhile after the verie signe thereof which was left behind vanisheth out of sight also So fareth it vvith man For within few daies after he is dead the very remembrance of him dyeth with his life though the party in this worlde were neuer so great and honourable Besides this is very certaine that there is Salust nothing in this tottering world among meÌ„ perpetuall nor any thing firme stable but all thinges passe repasse continually like vnto the ebbing flowing of the Sea And all things at the last haue an end by Mar. Aur. Death saue onely Death himselfe whose end is vnknowne For black vglie Death maketh al things Augustine subiect to the rigour of his Law And as there is nothing among men â—laeto more certaine then death so is there nothing more vncertaine to man then the howre of his death ¶ Of the many miseries happening to Man in this life §. 1. GReat trauaile saith Sirach is created Ecclus 40 1 2 3 4. for all men and an heauy yoake vppon the sonnes of Adam from the day that they goe out of theyr Mothers vvombe till the day that they be buried in the earth the common Mother of all things Namely theyr thoughts and theyr feare of hart theyr imagination of the thinges they waite for and the day of theyr death Euen from him that sitteth vpon the glorious throne vnto him that is lowest the most simple vpon earth From him that is gorgiously arrayed and weareth a Crowne Ecclus 40. 5 6 7 8 c. euen vnto him that is but homly porelie clothed there is nothing but wrath enuie trouble vnquietnesse and feare of death with rigorous anger and strife Also in the time of night vvhen Man should take his rest vpon his bed the sleep changeth his vnderstanding and knovvledge so that little or nothing is mans rest in his sleepe as well as in the day of his labour For hee feareth and is disquieted in the vision of his hart like vnto one that runneth out of a battaile And when all is past he awaketh out of his sleepe and meruaileth that the feare was nothing Such things as these happen vnto all flesh both man and beast but seuen times more vnto the vngodly And this also is the state or condition of Mans life sette downe by the holy Ghost himselfe in the booke of Iob That while Iob. 14 22. man liueth he shall be sorrowfull and so long as his soule is in him it shal mourne Onely the Sunne the Moone the starres Marlorate the Sea the Land are pleasant because they are by nature beautifull but all other thinges are doubtfull and greeuous And Man aboue them all for if any good thing happen vnto him hee feeleth vndoubtedly there-withall somâ— inward sorrowe and discontentment Yea the whole life of man is of it selfe a Menander most greeuous thing ful fraught with miserie and continually accompanied vvith innumerable cares and griefes So that it is counted no better thing but Plato euen a miserable fetter which chayneth the pure and euerlasting soule to the vile sinfull and corruptible body §. 2. Certainly saith Hermes God hath so Hermes ordained for man-kinde that vvee should liue in care For wee see by often experience that among all things liuing moouing vpon earth none is more miserable or wretched then Man All manner of beastes are during thys Menander life farre more happy wiser then man For behold the Asse of beasts no doubt a most simple and miserable creature yet hath hee no harme through his owne default saue what doth hap to him by nature But wee besides our naturall euils dailie procure vnto our selues many other For vvee are angry for euery little misfortune displeased at euery euill worde amazed at euery strange chaunce and afraid of euerie shadowe Yet is there none either so great
for all the companie of the faithfull in the kingdome of his Father And thus much likewise witnesseth the words of S. Iohn in the Reuelation where hee sayth * Blessed and holy is hee that Reue. 20 6◠hath part in the first resurrection for on such the second death hath no power Blessed also are the dead which hereafter Reu◠14 13 die in the Lord euen so saith the Spirite for they rest from theyr labours and theyr workes follow them ¶ Of the last Iudgement after death commonly called the general iudgement or Doomes day When the body and soule of euerie Man departed out of this life beeing by the power of God ioyned againe together shall with the rest of all mankind then liuing receiue the finall sentence either of eternall pleasure or paine §. 1. AFter death saith Esdras shall the 2 Esdras 14. 35. day of Iudgement come vvhen we shall liue againe and then shall the names of the righteous be made manifest and the workes of the vngodly shall be declared And many of them that sleepe in the Dan 12 2. dust of the earth shall awake Some to euerlasting life and som◠to shame and perpetuall contempt §. 2. But before the comming of this day saith Christ there shall be great warres Luke 21 10 11. troubles in the worlde For Nation shall rise against Nation and Realme against Realme There shall also be great Earthquakes in diuers places and pestilence and hunger and fearefull things appearing frō heauen and many other great signes and wonders There shall be signes in the Sunne and Luke 21. 25 26 in the Moone and in the starres and vpon the earth trouble among the Nations with perplexitie The Sea and the waters shall roare and mens harts shall fayle them for feare and for looking after those thinges which shall come on the World For the powers of heauen shall be shaken §. 3. After this shall appeare the signe of the Math. 24 30. sonne of man in heauen and then shall all the kindreds of the earth mourne Then also shal the wicked goe into the Esay 2 19 holes of the Rockes and into the Caues of the earth frō before the feare of the Lord and from the glory of his Maiestie vvhen he shall rise to destroy the earth Then shall they beginne to say to the Luke 23 30 Mountaines fall on vs and to the Hils couer vs hide vs from the presence of him that sitteth vpon the throne and from the Reue 6 16 17 wrath of the Lambe for the great day of his wrath is come and who can stand In those dayes men shall seeke death and Reue 9 6. shall not finde it and shall desire to die death shall flee from them And they shall see the Sonne of man Math. 24. 30 come in the clowdes of heauē with power and great glory Who beeing ordained of Acts. 10 42 * God to be the Iudge both of the quicke and deade shall sende his Angels vvith a Mat. 24 31. great sound of a trumpet and they shal gather together his Elect from the 4. windes and from the one end of heauen vnto the other §. 4. Then shall Christ sitte vpon the throne Math 25 31 32 33. of his glory and before him shall be gathered all Nations and he shall seperate them one from another as a sheepheard seperateth the sheepe from the goates And hee shall set the sheepe on his right hand and the goates on the left The shall the earth restore those that 2 Esdr 7 3◠haue slept in her and so shall the dust those that dwell therein in silence and the secret places shall deliuer the soules that were cōmitted vnto them And they shall come foorth that haue Iohn 5 29. doone good vnto the resurrection of life but they that haue done euill vnto the resurrection of condemnation For Christ our righteous Iudge vvill Math. 16. 27 then giue to euerie man according to his deedes And reward euery one according Reue 22 12 as his worke shall be Hee will then say to the righteous whom Math 25. 34 35 c. hee hath placed on his right hand Come yee blessed of my Father inherite yee the kingdom prepared for you from the foundations of the world For I was hungry ye gaue mee meate I was thirstie and yee gaue me drinke I was a stranger and yee lodged mee I was naked and yee clothed mee I was sick and yee visited me I was in prison and yee came vnto mee Then shall the iust say Lord when haue we doone these things vnto thee And the King shall answere Verily when you did them to the least of my bretheren you did them to mee Then will he say to the wicked standing Math. 25 41 42 c. on his left hand Depart from me yee cursed into euerlasting fire which is prepared for the deuill and his Angels For I vvas hungry and ye fed mee not I was thirstie and ye gaue mee no drinke I was a stranger and ye lodged mee not I was naked and you clothed me not I was sicke in prison and ye visited me not Then shall they also aunswere saying When ô Lord haue wee seene thee hungry or thirstie or a stranger or naked or sicke or in prison and haue not ministred vnto thee And he shall aunswere Truly I tell you inasmuch as yee haue not doone it to one of the least of these my bretheren yee did it not to mee And these men shall goe into euerlasting paine and the righteous into life eternall §. 5. Miseries saith Esdras shal then vanish away 2 Esdr 7 33 34. and long suffering shall haue an end Iustice onely shall cōtinue the Truth shal remaine and Faith shall be strong The worke shall follow and the rewarde verse 35 shall be shewed the good deedes shall be of force and vnrighteousnes shal beare no more rule For the day of Iudgement shall be the 2 Esdr 7 43. end of this world and the beginning of the immortalitie to come wherein all corruption shall cease Then shall no man bee able to saue him 2 Esdr 7. 45 that is destroyed nor oppresse him that hath gotten the victory §. 6. VVe finde in the New Testament that Saint Paule the Apostle vvriting to the Corinthians to prooue the resurrection of the dead and the second cōming of Christ vseth many arguments to expresse the same and neere vnto the end of his chapter he thus concludeth * Behold I shewe 1 Cor 15 51 52 53 you a secret thing vve shall not all sleepe or die but wee shall all be changed in a moment in the twinckling of an eye at the last trumpet for the trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised vp incorruptible and we shall be changed For this corruptible must put on incorruption And this mortall must put on immortality c. According
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
heauen glorified hee is able by his owne power to raise vp all those that be his members from death For his Resurrection euen vnto the dead Bernard is life to the Saints glory and to sinners mercie And like as when a man is cast into the Chrisostome Sea hauing all his body vnder the vvater and that there is nothing to be looked for but present death yet if hee carry his head aboue the water theâ—e is good hope of his recouerie so Christ himselfe though hee were dead and buried in the graue is risen againe as a sure pledge that all the iust shal likewise rise againe For hee is the headâ— vnto his Church and therefore all his members must needes follow him in theyâ— time §. 2. The resurrection of our Sauiour Christ Augustine saith S. Augustine vvâ—s long since preâ—â—gured in our first Father Adaâ— For as he rising from his sleepe did know Eue to â—e flesh of his flesh so Christ rising from â—is death by the wound of his side acknovvledged his Church And his resurrection is sufficiently â—uailable Augustine for all them that beleeue in him for by the same power whereby he raised himselfe he raiseth all his members and therefore he is called a quickning Spirit Besides it was most needfull that Christ Ambrose our Sauiour shoulde rise againe after his death for these three causes following First that he might thereby shewe to all the people of God that he had fully ouercome death Secondly Christ vvhich died vvas the sonne of GOD therefore the Authour of life it selfe and for this cause it was neyther meete nor possible for him to be holden of death but needes he must rise from death Thirdly Christ his Priest-hood consisteth of two parts one to make satisâ—faction for sinne which he perâ—â—â—ted by his one onely sacrifice vpon the Crosse the other to apply through the secrete working of his holy Spirite the vertue of this sacrifice to euery one that beleeueth in him vvhich could not be vnlesse hee had risen againe from the dead §. 1. CHrist our Sauiour hauing once offered himselfe a sufficient sacrifice vnto his Father for our sinnes sitteth as the Apostle saith for * euer at the right hand of Heb 10 12 13. God and from hence-forth tarrieth vntill his enemies be made his footestoole For vvith one offering hath hee made verse 14 perfit for euer them that are sanctified Yea be is now at the right hand of God 1 Pet 3 22 gone into heauen and to him the Angels powers and might are subdued Also when hee ascended vp on hiâ— hee Ephe 4 8 ledde captiuitie captiue gaue gifts vnto men Hee gaue some to be Apostles some to Ephe 4 11 12 13. be Prophets some to be Eâ—angelists and some to be Pastours and Teachers for the gathering together of the Saints for the worke of the Ministerie and for the edification of the body of Christ till vvee all meete together in the vnitie of fayth and knowledge of the sonne of GOD vnto a perfit man §. 2. Christ saith S. Ierome is ascended into Ierome heauen and sitteth at the right hand of the Father the same nature of flesh wherein he was borne suffered and rose againe remaining still For the substance of his humaine nature vvas not done avvay but glorified Wherefore vvee must beleeue that although Cyrill Christ be absent from vs as concerning his body yet by his diuine power he gouerneth vs and all things and is euermore present with all the faithfull according as himselfe hath promised euen * vntill Math. 28. 20 the end of the world For like as when he was conuersant here Cyrill on earth as man yet then he filled heauen and did not leaue the company of Angels euen so beeing nowe in heauen with his flesh yet he filleth the earth and dwelleth in all them that loue him So that he is with vs not with vs for Virgilius those whom he left and went from as concerning his humanitie those he left not nor forsooke them not as touching his diuinitie For as touching the forme of a seruaunt which hee tooke away from vs into heauen he is absent from vs but by the forme of God which goeth not from vs he is alwayes present with vs in earth And neuerthelesse both present and absent he is all one Christ §. 3. Christ by his ascention saith S. Augustine Augustine hath like a noble Captaine taken sinne and â—athan prisoners and hath pinioned theÌ„ fast so that all the power which they heeretofore had is nowe in Christes hand And this benefite likewise comes vnto Augustine vs by his ascention that he is ascended not onely to rest personally in heauen himselfe but also to prepare a place of endlesse felicitie for as many as shall beleeue in him And that hee might the better by his ascention Ambrose take away al excuses froÌ„ them that will not seeke his king dome hee hath seâ—â—e markes and boundes in the way and hath placed guides in it namely his Ministers to shew all passengers a straight and ready course vnto the kingdome of God Nay more euen with his owne bloode Ierome hee hath vouchsafed to trayne the way for vs to the kingdome of heauen and hath there made a perpetuall purchase for vs requiring nothing of vs but that we would come to possesse the place which he hath already payd for §. 4. VVee reade saith S. Bernard that no Bernard man ascendeth vp to heauen but hee that came downe from heauen What shall we doe then shall we despaire Nay rather by this saith hee our hope is made stronger for although Christ onely ascend yet rest we fully assured that euery part of him goeth with him for a bone of him shall not be broken and the heade in Gods kingdom is not found without the members Thou therefore which fearest death remember Ierome that Christ is gone into heauen to prepare a place for thy bodieâ— vvhere it must be glorified and liue for euer vvith the blessed Trinitie all the holy Saints and beautifull Angels though for a while it lie dead â—ot in the earth For as sure as Christ our Captaine is ascended Beza into heauen in mans nature so certainly shall all we that are his members by his almightie power be likewise receiued into heauen in the same nature wherein he is ascended §. 5. What shall wee then say to these things Rom. 8 31 32. If GOD be on our side vvho can be against vs Who spared not his own sonne but gaue him for vs all to death how shall he not with him giue vs all things also Who shall lay any thing to the charge of verse 33. 34 Gods chosen It is GOD that iustifieth who shall condemne It is Christ vvhich is dead yea or rather vvhich is risen againe who is also at the right hand of God
euerliuing GOD to maintaine it which shal neuer be wearie §. 31. Rightly therefore is hell termed the hold â—rasmus of horrour distresse and misery and the Cell of torment griefe and vexation Wherein nothing els is to be heard but Cassiâ—dorus onely the furious raging of hellish tormentors and the ruthfull lamentations of damned persons Where all hope of ease and comfort for Gregory euer is exempted no redemption from thence may be expected For after the vvhole company of most Anselmus miserable damned vvretches haue there suffered torments both in soule and bodie for their sinnes as many thousand yeres as there haue been dayes since the beginning of the vvorld or as there be drops of water in the deepest Sea yet shall they then notwithstanding haue as farre to the ende of theyr punishment as they had the first day of theyr entrance into those greeuous calamities And as long as Almighty God shall be GOD which is for euer and euer world without end so long shall the wicked burne in the tormenting lake of fire brimstone vvithout mittigation of theyr miseries hope of heauenly fauour or likelihood of any releasement From the which pit of endlesse perdition and stinking dungion of eternall darknesse hee that is the Father of mercies and God of euerlasting glory deliuer all those that belong vnto him for his beloued Sonne Iesus Christ his sake our only Lord and Sauiour Amen FINIS ¶ Behold howe I haue not laboured for my selfe onely but for all them that seeke vvisedome Ecclus. 24. 39. Vnto God alone be giuen all praise honour glory ⧠A necessary Table of all the speciall matters contained in this Booke ¶ The seuerall matters handled in the first Discourse THat the Lord our God is immortall inuisible euerlasting page 1. 2. 3. 4. Of the mightie power of GOD. page 6. 7. 8. 9. c. That it belongeth onely vnto GOD to pardon our sinnes page 23. 24. 25. Of the wisedome of God page 31. Of the knowledge of God page 38. That the Lord God knoweth both the godly and vngodly page 40. 41. Of the great mercie and louing kindnes of God page 43. 44. That the mercy of God is both generall and speciall page 46. Of the iustice of God page 53. The iustice of God deuided by S. Ambrose into three parts page 56. Of three speciall causes that daily moue men to sinne against God page 57. Of the vvayes of God page 63. That the wayes of God are to be taken for all manner of his dooings page 64. That the Lorde is righteous in all his wayes page 65. That the wayes of God are not like vnto the wayes of man page 66. Of the word of God page 68 The authoritie of Gods word page 70 That Gods word coÌ„taineth in it al things needfull for our saluation page 72 That Gods vvorde is easie to be vnderstoode page 74 75 Of the workes of God 76 77 That of all the works of God man is the cheefest page 83 Howe man is saide to be the Image of GOD. page 83 84 God hath created man foure seuerall vvayes page 84 ¶ The seuerall matters handled in the second Discourse OF man of his naturall inclination page 90 91 92 c That man hath no free-will of himselfe to doe any thing that is good page 97 98 99 c That mans naturall free-will reacheth onely but to carnall and worldly matters page 100. Of the shortnes and vncertaintie of mans life page 106 Of the many miseries hapning to man in this life page 113 The causes why God suffereth man to be so much subiect to misery page 121 Of the parting of the soule from the bodie and of the immortalitie thereof 125 Of the first Iudgement after death page 132 133 Of the last Iudgement after death page 135 136 Of the vncertaine time of the last Iudgement page 142 ¶ The seuerall matters handled in the third discourse OF Christ page 146. That by him were all things created page 147 That Christ hath all power giuen him both in heauen and in earth page 148 That Christ is the way the truth the life vnto the kingdome of heauen page 148 149 That Christ is both the power of God and the wisedome of God page 150 That Christ is our wisedome and righteousnes sanctification and redemption c. page 150 151 The seuerall causes of Christes coÌ„ming into the world and the necessity thereof page 152 153 That Christ came to offer grace vnto all men page 152. That Christ came to fulfill the Lawe to make satisfaction vnto his Father for our offences page 153 That Christ came into the world both true God and true man page 154 That Christ came downe from heauen to vs that wee might ascend vp to heauen by him page 157 That Christ came to loose or destroy the workes of the deuill page 157 That Christ came to seeke and to saue that which was lost page 157. Of the Passion Death Buriall Resurrection ascention of our sauiour Christ according to the Scriptures page 158 159 160 161 c That Christ was deliuered to death by the determinate counsell and fore-knowledge of God page 165 166 Of the seuerall benefites which wee haue by the death resurrection and ascention of our Sauiour Christ page 172 173. c That Christ by his death gaue himselfe a raunsome for all men page 172 That Christ was clothed vvith death that hee might thereby kill death for vs. page 173 That Christ by his death hath destroyed him that had the power of death 173. That Christ hath taken on him our infirmities and borne our paines page 174 That Christ hath redeemed vs from the curse of the law when he was made a curse for vs. page 176 That when Christ suffered death in his flesh vpon the Crosse the God-head and manhood were together page 177 Of foure benefites that wee receiue by the death of Christ page 177 That the meanes of our saluation by the death of Christ are two-fold 178 That Christ by his death hath put out the hand-writing that was against vs contained in the Law written page 178. That like as Christ by his owne power raised himselfe to life so by his own power hee is able to raise vp all them that are his members page 183. That the resurrection of Christ vvas long since prefigured in Adam 184 That Christ our Sauiour is ascended into heauen and sitteth for euer at the right hand of God page 185 That although Christ be absent from vs as concerning his humanitie yet hee is alwaies present with vs by the power of his diuinitie page 186 That Christ by his ascention hath taken sinne and sathan prisoners page 187 That Christ is ascended to prepare a place for vs in heauen page 187 That Christ being in heauen at the right hand of God maketh request vnto his Father for vs. page 189 That although Christ be both GOD and man yet
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
Mar. Aurel. those men which be good among so many euils in this life should be greatly honoured with God after theyr death And assuredly it is to be beleeued that Plato all they which in this worlde follow vertue and liue more godly then other men shall after their soule is by the stroke of death departed from theyr body ascend vp into a purer life and dwell for euer in the presence of God Happy therefore are the righteous yea Gueuara double happy are the righteous First for that they shal in this life be blessed in their labours from GOD with aboundance of all things necessary for them Secondly for that they shall be made partakers of Gods endlesse glory in the world to come §. 29. VVhere among many other fauours and inestimable delights from the Maker Hemingius of all things granted vnto them they shall be permitted daily to behold the beautie of all beauties most to bee reioyced in namely the vnmeasurable maiestie amiable countenaunce of Almightie GOD theyr Creator Father and Preseruer According to that sentence of our Sauiour in the Gospell where he saith * Blessed Math. 5. 8. are the pure or vpright in hart for they shall see GOD. Not as wee see nowe for nowe wee see 1. Cor. 12. 13. through a glasse darkly but then shall vve see face to face Nowe wee knowe in part but then shall we knowe euen as wee are knowne §. 30. Then also shall the iust men shine as Math. 13. 43 the Sunne in the kingdome of theyr Father And they that in this world turne many Dan 12 3 to righteousnes shall shine as the starres for euer and euer They shall sit also vvith Christ himselfe Math. 19. 28 in his kingdome vpon twelue thrones iudge the twelue Tribes of Israell Yea they shall iudge the Nations and Wisd 3 8 haue dominion ouer the people theyr Lord shall raigne for euer-more §. 31. Then shall the righteous stand in great Wisd 5. 1. boldnesse before the face of such as haue dealt extreamely with them and taken away theyr labours And vvhen the vngodly see them they verse 2 shall be vexed with horrible feare shall stand amazed at theyr wonderfull deliuerance And changing then theyr mindes and verse 3 sighing through inward greefe they shall say within thēselues These are they whom wee some-time had in derision and iested vpon VVee fooles thought theyr life to be Wisd 5 4 madnesse and theyr end to be without honour But loe howe they are counted among verse 5 the chyldren of God and theyr portion is among the Saints §. 32. Then as Anselmus saith shall all the Anselmus whole company or number of the righteous receiue fully theyr rewarde together from GOD and they shall euery one of them be blessed of him with sundry blessings both in bodie and soule They shall first and formost be blessed The seuerall blessings that the bodies of the faithfull shall receiue in the kingdome of heauen According to the saying of Anselmus in body with such wonderfull beauty that they shall euery way be equall to the Sunne in brightnes and glory Secondly they shal be endued with such agilitie or quicknes that they shall be like vnto the Angels of GOD in theyr speedie moouing Thirdly theyr fortitude shall be so sufficient that no creature what-soeuer shall be able to withstand theyr strength Fourthly theyr libertie shall be so free secure that nothing shall haue any power eyther to hinder or resist them Fiftly they shall possesse perfect health vvithout any manner of greefe or infirmitie Sixtly they shal be throughly filled with an ineffable delight and vvholy replenished with an vnspeakeable aboundance of inestimable ioy Yea euery part and member of them shall be filled with such wonderful sence and feeling of incomparable pleasure and delight that the whole man shall quaffe of the riuer of Gods pleasure and be made drunke vvith the plentie of ioy vvhich hee shall haue in the House of the Lord. Seauenthly they shall be blessed vvith such length and perpetuity of life as shall neuer receiue any end but cōtinue alwaies in eternall ioy and pleasure and endure therein euen with GOD himselfe so long as his life and power lasteth which can neuer come to conclusion nor at any time be diminished §. 33. And as concerning the soules of the The seuerall beatitudes of glorified soules in the kingdom of God According to the saving of Anselmus righteous they shal then also be enriched with as many fauours from GOD as each glorified body hath The first beatitude which shal be giuen them is perfect wisedome for there the soule of euery simple Swaine shall possesse more knowledge vnderstanding then euer did all the Phylosophers or greatest Clarkes in this life The second beatitude or blessednesse of the soule shal be the true amitie vnfayned friendship of one righteous person to another as members all of one body whose head is Christ Iesus the Lord. And in that blessed societie shal neuer be any enuy hatred or discorde but euen as long and as well as any man in that kingdome dooth loue himselfe so long and so well shall he loue euery one else that resteth in the same fellowship with him Theyr third beatitude shall be the concord or agreement which then shal rest betweene the body and the soule of euery Saint that disagreed in this life for they shal then be at peace and vnitie the body shall will as the soule willeth and the soule shall desire as the body desireth so that in all poynts there shall be perfect agreement betweene them Besides this concord shal not onely rest betweene the body soule of euery particuler Saint but also between the whole congregation of the godly for they shal will no contrarieties but all shall will as one willeth and one shall will as all willeth Their fourth beatitude shal be honour for almightie GOD shal then fully deliuer all his Saints from the filthy vlcers of sinne many miseries and infinite infirmities passions where-vnto the corruption of the flesh made them in this vvorlde daily subiect Hee shall heale them restore them to perfect health most mercifully adorne them with the ornament of absolute righteousnes and immortality He shall adopt them for his sonnes and chyldren and shall make them inheritours of his heauenly kingdome and coheires with his best beloued and onely begotten sonne Christ Iesus Theyr fift beatitude shall be power for the righteous shal then be able to doe what they wil because they shal haue the Creator of heauen and earth agreeable in all things to what-soeuer they desire Theyr sixt beatitude shall be securitie that is they shal not onely haue power to doe what they wil and to enioy what pleasure soeuer theyr hart desireth but they shall also be without any feare or doubt of euer losing the same seeing God which is