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
hedged in with bushes and the path thereof couered with thornes whereby no man may trauaile VVoe vnto them that speake good of Esay 5 20 euill and euill of good which put darkenesse for light and light for darkenes that put bitter for sweet and sweet for sower VVoe vnto them that excell in gluttony Esay 5 22 23 and drunkennes which iustifie the vvicked for a reward and take away the righteousnes of the righteous from them For as the flame of fire deuoureth the Esay 5. 24. stubble as the chaffe is consumed of the flame so shal theyr roote be as rottennesse and theyr blossome shall vanish avvay like dust because they haue cast off the Lawe of the Lord of hostes and contemned the word of the holie one of Israell §. 16. There is a way saith Salomon vvhich Prou. 14. 12 13. seemeth right to a man but the issues therof are the wayes of death Euen in laughing the hart is sorrowfull and the ende of that mirth is heauinesse Doubtlesse the Wiseman in this speech of his meaneth the way of worldly pleasures VVhere-into * Euagoras the wicked beeing once entred they are daily so ledde away vvith the vaine delights thereof that they neuer regard godlines till the deceits of iniquitie bring them to destruction For the end of all worldly pleasure is Theophilact sorrow and paine And the stipend or revvard of sinne Rom 6. 23 is death Not the death of the body onely for that Rauisius as all men knowes is naturall and ordinarie but the death both of body and soule which is endlesse and eternall §. 17. Through the sundry subtilties of sinne Origen and the contempt of Gods law saith Origen many thousands in this world passe after death to perpetuall perdition And vvho-soeuer refuseth to followe Virgilius righteousnesse shall for his recompence dwell with confusion For destruction shall be to the workers Prou. 21. 15 of iniquitie And the man that wandereth out of the Prou 21 16 way of wisedome shall remaine in the congregation of the dead §. 18. The hart that is obstinate shall be laden Ecclê° 3. 29. with sorrowes and the wicked man shall heape sinne vpon sinne Because he hath refused knowledge hee Hosea 4. 6. shall be refused of the Lord. And for that he hath left the way of vnderstanding Gueuara and life he shal fal into diuers dangers by the deceits of false doctrine For errour and darknesse are appoynted Ecclê° 11 16 for sinners And they that worke wickednes shal be Ecclê° 27. 27 wrapped in euils §. 19. Inquisition saith the Wiseman shall be Wisd 1 9 made for the thoughts of the vngodly the sounde of his wordes shall come vnto God for the correction of his iniquities The wicked deedes which he hath done Bernard shall stand vp to declare against him and the reward of his vnrighteousnes shall be powred vppon him His vnquiet conscience shal be his chiefest Pet. Lomb. accuser and the sinne of his owne impietie shall bee most forward to conuict him §. 20. The vngodly shall be punished according Wisd 3. 10. to theyr imaginations for they haue despised the righteous and forsaken the Lord. They haue thought euill in theyr harts Wisd 2 21. 22. against the godly and haue gone astray through theyr owne folly for theyr owne wickednesse hath blinded them and they doe not vnderstand the misteries of God neither hope they for the reward of righteousnes nor can discerne the honour of the soules that are faultlesse The way that they walke is as the darknes Prou. 4. 19 they know not wherein they shal fall They meete with darknes euen in the Iob. 5. 14. day time and grope at noone day as in the night The hope that they haue is indignation Prou. 11 23 Prou 13. 21 Psal 112. 10 * Affliction dooth followe them * And theyr desire shall perrish Theyr hope is a false hope Like vnto the hope of * Siseras mother vvho pleasantly Iudges 5. 28 29. 30. perswaded herselfe that her Sonne was gorgiously attyred in roabes of needle worke and very busie after the battell in deuiding the spoyles of Israel when hee lay sencelesly sleeping in * Iaels tent with Iudges 4. 21 a nayle driuen through his forehead Or like the hope of Haman * Who Ester 6 6 7. 8. 9. c. proudly thought in his hart that King Ahashuerosh would doe honour to no man more then to him vvhen contrariwise all the glory which he wisht vnto himselfe he was coÌ„maunded to shew vnto Mordecaâ— the man whom aboue all men els he most hated and * the euill death vvhich hee Ester 7 10. prepared for the same man was his ovvne latter ending §. 21. All iniquitie saith Sirach is as a double Ecclê° 21. 3. edged sword the wounds whereof cannot be healed Dishonour shame euill death damnation Paâ—â—â—ius waite vpon pride enuie murther and such other like vices And the match that kindleth against Cicero vngodly people the fierce wrath of God is their owne wilful persisting in sinne and iniquitie For as theyr harts wexe harder and harder Arnobius through theyr custome in sinning daily more and more impenitent so they hourely heape vp displeasure vnto themselues against the day of Gods wrath and the terrible appearing of his iust iudgement §. 22. Oh howe vnhappy then are the liues of Constantius all those men that leaue vertue to follovve vice and forsake wisedome to embrace wickednesse For they thereby make theyr mindes vnapt Plotinuâ— to receiue any goodnes and clog theyr consciences vvith many molestations They liue alwaies doubtfull of their own Pet. Lomb. safetie in the day time and theyr sleepe is vnquiet and full of feares in the night The morning is euen to them as the Iob. 24. 17. shadow of death And they buy hell dearer then good Gregory men buy heauen §. 23. They are ready to flee when none pursueth Prou. 28 1. them And are very often dreading that some Pâ—t Mart. deserued danger will suddainely fall vpon them The reason is for that all wickednes in it Orosius selfe is full of feare And the conscience that is touched doth Wisd 17 10 alwayes fore-cast cruell things For there can be no greater trouble to Tremelius the vngodly in this lyfe then the inward vexations of their own guiltie conscience The testimony whereof is as a thousand Marlorate witnesses against them and the doome of it is euerlasting damnation Insomuch that the consciences of the Mart. Bucer wicked which are wounded ouer-burdened with the weight of sinne doe most certainly feele euen in thys world part of hell torments And many times the sting or gnawing Erasmus vvorme thereof enforceth the miserable offender cleane to remooue all his confidence from the comfort of Gods mercie
Iohn 3 3. saith Christ hee cannot see the kingdome of God That is as our Sauiour himselfe expoundeth it Except that a man bee borne of Water and of the Spirit hee cannot enter into the kingdome of God That which is borne of the flesh is flesh Iohn 3 6 and that that is borne of the Spirit is Spirite A man can receiue nothing except it be Iohn 3 27. giuen him from heauen §. 17. Why doe men then presume so much Augustine of the possibilitie of nature saith S. Augustine seeing it is wounded it is â—â—angled it is troubled it is lost It behoueth vs rather truly to confesse it then falsely to defend it For in our flesh the euill lurketh and Bullenger out of vs iniquitie ariseth Whereupon the Apostle in his Epistle to the Romaines saith * I know that in mee that is in my Rom 7 18 19. flesh dwelleth no good thing For to wil is present with mee but I finde no meanes to performe that which is good For I do not the good thing which I would but the euill which I would not that doe I. Also it furthermore seemeth that the verie coÌ„sideration of this our weake sinfull nature where-vnto we are yoked was the only cause which enforced the same Apostle within 5. verses following vehemently to breake forth into these speeches saying O wretched man that I am vvho shall deliuer Rom 7 24. mee from the body of this death But comforting recouering himselfe through faith in his Redeemer he presently maketh this reply in the next verse after saying * I giue thanks vnto God through Rom. 7 25. Iesus Christ our Lord. For hee deliuereth vs from the wrath of 1 The. 1. 10 God to come And GOD hath giuen vs the victorie 1 Cor. 15 57. through him Yea the victory is wholely gotten in his Augustine Name that hath taken man vpon him and hath liued without sinne that in him and through him being both the Priest the Sacrifice remission forgiuenes of sinnes should be obtained and giuen That is to say by the Mediatour of GOD and Man that man Iesus Christ by whom the purging of our sinnes beeing made wee are reconciled vnto God For men bee not seperated from God but by sinnes whereof the purging is not made or which are not purged in this life by our owne vertue and strength but by the mercie of God by his pardon clemencie and not by our own power For the same small vertue and strength that is called ours is graunted and giuen vnto vs by the mercifull goodnesse of Almightie GOD. Thus much onely to shewe vvhat Man is of himselfe by nature ¶ Of the shortnesse and vncertaintie of Mans life §. 1. IT followeth next to be coÌ„sidered what the life of Man is and so consequently how short and vncertaine the same To beginne therefore first with Mans life vve finde in the fourth of S. Iames that the Apostle doth not there compare or liken it to smoake but plainly saith * It is euen Iames 4 14. a vapour or smoake that appeareth for a little time and afterward vanisheth awav We read also in the second Booke of Samuell that the subtile woman of Tekoah pleading with King Dauid for the reconcilement 2. Sam. 14. 4 of his sonne compareth the life of Man to no better thing then water spilt vppon the ground which being once down can neuer be gathered vp againe Besides the Prophet Esay with the afore-said S. Iames S. Peter doe all three agree in one sentence about the life of man Esay 40 6. lames 1. 10. 1. Pet. 1 24 saying * All flesh is grasse and the glorie of man is as the flower of grasse Euen as a flower of the fielde so florisheth Psalm 103 15 16. Man for the winde goeth ouer it and it is gone and the place thereof shall know it no more §. 2. Man that is borne of a woman saith Iob Iob. 14 1 2. is of short continuaunce and full of trouble hee shooteth forth like a flower and is cut downe he vanisheth also as a shadow and continueth not The daies of his life are determined the Iob 14 5. number of his monthes are known to thee ô Lorde thou hast appointed him his boundes beyonde the which hee cannot passe §. 3. The time of Mans life saith the Psalmist Psal 90 10 is threescore yeeres and tenne and if they be of strength foure-score yeeres yet their strength is but labour sorrow for it is cutte off quickly and we flee away If the number of a Mans dayes doe amount Ecclê° 18. 8 to an hundred yeres it is very much And no man liuing hath any certaine knowledge of his death But euen as fishes when they think theÌ„selues Ecclesi 9. 12 in most safetie are taken vvith the hooke and as birdes are caught in a snare when they thinke nothing lesse so death suddainly smiteth men in an euill season when * Granado they are least mindfull of any such matter §. 4. Now if we consider by the authoritie of these few former places onely what and hovve short the life of Man is seeing the longest terme thereof according to the saying of the Psalmist passeth not threescore and tenne or foure-score yeeres for all the rest if any mans life be drawne a little longer is but labour and sorrow and Granado abate out of this saith Granado the time of our infancie vvhich is rather a lyfe of beasts then men and withall the time that we spend in sleep at which instant we haue not the vse of our sences and reason vvee shall finde that this life of ours is a great deale shorter then it seemeth vnto vs. For wee cannot well reckon the time of our infancie for any part of our life because the life of infancie when we are not yet come to the vse of reason which only sheweth vs to be men is as it were the lyfe of a young Goate that goeth wantonly about leaping and skipping in diuers places at pleasure And especially because we plainly perceiue that in all that age there is nothing either learned or doone that may well beseeme the dignitie of a man And as for the time we spend in sleepe that may much lesse bee counted any part of our life seeing it is the coÌ„mon custome of men to sleepe the third part of the day and night which is eyght vvhole howres VVhere-vppon it followeth by thys account that the third part of our life is consumed in sleepe and so consequently that during that time we doe not liue Besides all this if wee doe compare thys life of ours with the eternitie of the life to come which endureth euerlastingly we shall finde that it vvill scarcely seeme so much as a minute Very well therefore and aduisedlie did that Philosopher write vvho likened the life of man to lightning which coÌ„tinueth Crates but a
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
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
without a Pilot tost vp and downe vppon the waues by the windes tempests For by reason of his vnquiet thoughts Pyndarus and aspiring spirit hee can neuer content himselfe in any meane vocation But still striueth higher and higher to be Hemingius exalted till the burden of his sin bruse both his life and soule with the weight §. 4. My sonne saith Sirach be not proude Ecclê° 6. 2. 3 in the deuise of thine owne minde least thy soule rent thee as a Bull and eate vp thy leaues and destroy thy fruite and leaue thee like a dry tree in the wildernes For a wicked soule destroyeth him that Ecclus. 6. 4. hath it and maketh him to be laughed to scorne of his enemies and bringeth him to the portion of the vngodly Wherefore if thou wilt be beloued both Plotinus of God and good men endeuour diligently to abstaine from pride and be not of an hautie stoute and stately spirit neyther arrogantly boast thy selfe at any time of the good gifts of God whether of vvisedom beautie policie strength authority or riches For it is one God that is onelie wise amiable puissant wealthy and full of all felicitie Which God ought of euery man to bee worshipped vvith humblenesse of hart For who separateth thee ô man from other men and preferreth thee or what 1 Cor 4 7 hast thou that thou hast not receiued if thou hast receiued it why reioycest thou as though thou haddest not receiued it §. 5. And although it please God to bestow Mar. Bucer some kinde of gift on some men in more plentifull manner then on others and to place one man in authoritie aboue another heere on earth yet ought not hee that is so enriched or raised to swell in pride against his inferiour therefore For God by creation hath made all men Hermes alike and hovv-soeuer vvee deceiue our selues as deere vnto him is the poorest begger as the most pompous Prince in the world Also thus fore-warneth vs the Lorde himselfe saying Let not the vvise-man glorie in his wisedom nor the strong man Ierem 9 23 24 glory in his strength nor the rich man glory in his riches but let him that glorieth glory in this that hee vnderstandeth knoweth me For I am the Lord which shew mercie iudgement righteousnes in the earth c. §. 6. Why is earth and ashes proude seeing Ecclê° 10 12 that when a man dyeth hee is the heyre of Serpents beasts and wormes And hee that thinks himselfe as rich as Plato the richest during his life shall bee made as poore as the poorest soone after his death For all men haue one entrance vnto life Wisd 7 6 and a like going out Be not proude then of clothing and rayment Ecclê° 11. 4 neyther exalt thy selfe in the day of honour For pride goeth before destruction and Prou 16. 18 an high minde before the fall As may for example be seene in the storie Acts. 12. 21. 22. 23. of Herod who beeing in the midst of his pride and royaltie was suddainly smytten by the Angell of God and forced speedily to forgoe his life riches and glory The like example also as a speciall forewarning 2. Mac. 9. is left vnto vs in the story of Antiochus whose wicked life and miserable death is sette downe at large in the second Booke of the Maccabees Let men therefore feare the Almightie Iob 37 24. for hee will not regard any that are wise in theyr owne conceite ¶ Against enuie hatred malice anger wrath murder §. 1. THou shalt not saith the Lord hate thy Leuit 19 17 neighbour or brother in thine heart but thou shalt plainely rebuke thy neighbour and suffer him not to sinne Thou shalt not auenge nor be mindfull Leuit 19 18 of wrong against the chyldren of thy people but shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe Say not thou I will recompence euill Prou 20 22. 24 29 or I will doe to him as hee hath doone to mee but waite vpon the Lord he shall saue thee For where enuying and strife is there is Iames 3 16 sedition and all manner of euill workes §. 2. Enuie saith Plato is the daughter of Plato Pride the authour of murther reuenge the beginner of all secret sedition and the perpetuall enemie to vertue So that there is not a more wicked thing theÌ„ for a man to hate or be enuious by the Mar. Aur. which effect the deuils be most miserable And the onely difference betweene enuie Aristotle and hatred is this the first worketh euill secretly the second pursueth after reuenge publiquely §. 3. As of all vices Pride is the greatest so of Socrates all euils Enuie is the most auncient and Gluttony the foulest Enuie neuer walkes abroad without his Pythag. companion Slaunder in his company for they are as it were two brothers linked together to worke wickednesse And as enuie intends euill against his Phocilides neighbour secretly in his thought so slaunder endeuoureth priuily to defame him with his tongue §. 4. The malicious man doth alwayes drink Seneca the most part of his owne poyson And like as yron is consumed with rust so the harts of the enuious are daily eaten consumed by enuie The man also that is enuious becommeth Boetius euer-more a troublesome tormentor to himselfe during his life and neuer hurteth any man else by his hatred whilst hee liueth so much as hee harmeth himselfe at the time of his death An example heereof may be seene in the 2. Sam 17. 1 2 3 4. c. actions of Ahitophell who hauing greatly abused his wit by beating his braine to giue wicked counsel to king Dauids sonne against his Father seeing afterward his purpose preuented and his counsell contemned he was presently so molested with inward malice and ouer-come of secret enuie that more Asse-like then the Asse vvhich hee rode on he made hast home to hang himselfe §. 5. Be not thou saith Salomon of an hasty Eccles 7 11. spirit to be angry for anger resteth in the bosome of fooles And as the vapour and smoake of the Ecclê° 22. 24 chimney goeth before the fire so euill words rebukes and threatnings goe before blood-shedding §. 6. If thy anger be but a small time deferred Dion thou shalt plainly perceiue that it will therby be greatly abated but if thou nourish and suffer the same to continue it will neuer cease vntill by reuenge it bring thee to ruine He therefore may well be said to be conquerour Chilo ouer a stoute enemy that can by his wisedome and patience ouercome his owne anger For hee that delights in peace and quietnesse Perdicas sleepeth secure but he that loueth strife and anger is continually subiect to wrath and danger §. 7. Yee haue heard saith Christ that it was Math 5 21 said vnto them of
mee they will persecute you also If they haue called the Maister of the Math 10 25 house Beelzebub howe much more them of his houshold But all these thinges will they doe vnto Iohn 15 21 you for my Names sake because they haue not knowne him that sent mee Yea the time shall come that whosoeuer Iohn 16. 2. killeth you will thinke that he dooth God seruice Notwithstanding blessed are ye if you 1. Pet. 3. 14. suffer for righteousnes sake For vnto such appertaineth the kingdome Math 5 10 of heauen Yea blessed are yee when men reuile Math. 5 11 12. you and persecute you and say all manner of euill against you for my sake falselie reioyce and be glad for great is your reward in heauen for so persecuted they the Prophets which were before you §. 5. Let not saith he your harts be troubled Iohn 14. 1. yee beleeue in God beleeue also in me In the world ye shall haue affliction but Iohn 16 33 be of good comfort I haue ouer-com the world And feare not them which kill the bodie Math. 10. 28 Luk. 12 4. 5 and after that are not able to doe any more but rather feare him which is able to destroy both body soule in hell yea I say vnto you feare him For what shall it profit a man though Math 16. 26 hee should winne the whole world if hee lose his ovvne soule or what shall a man giue for recompence of his soule VVho-soeuer therefore shall confesse Math 10 32 mee before men him will I confesse also before my Father which is in heauen But vvho-soeuer shall denie mee before verse 33 men him will I also denie before my Father which is in heauen Who-soeuer likewise shal be ashamed Luke 9. 26 of mee and of my words of him shall the sonne of man be ashamed when hee shall come in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy Angels §. 6. Deerely beloued saith S. Peter thinke 1. Pet. 4 12. it not strange concerning the fierie tryall which is among you to prooue you as though some strange thing were come vnto you But reioyce in as much as yee are partakers verse 13. of Christes sufferings that when his glorie shall appeare yee may be glad and reioyce For vvee must through many afflictions Acts 14 22 enter into the kingdome of God And all that will liue godly in Christ Iesus 2. Tim. 3. 12 shall suffer persecution §. 7. If yee be railed vppon for the Name of 1. Pet 4 14. Christ blessed are you for the Spirit of glory of God resteth vpon you which on their part is euill spoken of but on your part is glorified But let none of you suffer as a murtherer 1. Pet 4 15. or as a theefe or as an euill dooer or as a busie-body in other mens matters But if any man suffer as a Christian let verse 16. him not be ashamed but let him glorifie God in that behalfe For it is better if the will of God be so 1 Pet 3 17. that yee should suffer for well-doing then for euill doing And the lesse iustice that a godly man Tremelius findeth at the handes of the vngodly the more comfort shall he receiue in cōscience at the mercifull hand of God §. 8. My sonne saith Sirach submit not thy Ecclus 4 27 28. selfe vnto a foolish man neyther accept thou the person of the mightie But striue for the truth vnto death and defende iustice euen to the losse of thyne owne life and the Lord thy God shall fight for thee against thine enemies Be fauourable to all men be likewise in Socrates subiection to al lawes but aboue al things fulfill the will of God rather then the will of man For a righteous and godly man hauing Pet. Ramus in him the spirit of zeale and constancie neuer feareth in his afflictions the crueltie of any man but vvill boldlie to the death stand vnto the truth And forasmuch as hee knoweth that Rauisius almightie God is the truth and that truth is GOD hee likewise wisely considereth that he which departeth from the one departeth from the other But hee that eyther for feare of punishment Hemingius or else in hope of a Tyrants fauour forsaketh the truth before men vpon earth leaueth the most certaine promise of perpetuall felicitie for an vncertaine assurance of short-lasting vanitie and by seeking to deliuer his body from danger cloggeth his conscience with griefe and his soule with sorrow §. 9. If then thou be desirous to liue euerlastingly Gueuara faint not at any time vnder the burden of thine afflictions neither be thou mooued from thy hope of heauens helpe through the multitude of thy miseries but patiently put thy trust in the promises of Gods mercie and pray often for such perseuerance as may bring thee to eternall blessednes In all thy troubles stand vnto the truth Plotinus and commit thy selfe in thy greatest necessitie wholy altogether to the most high and mighty GOD neyther fearing them that threaten nor beleeuing thē that speak thee faire but trust in him alone that is most kinde and compassionate true of his promise and able to make both his vvord and worke good For more wisedome is it that a man for Hermes his soules sake shoulde suffer death then lose his soules happines for the loue of this life Blessed therfore is the man that endureth Iames 1 12 tentation for when hee is tryed hee shall receiue the crowne of life vvhich the Lorde hath promised to them that loue him §. 10. The peaceable and blessed life of the Bernard godly saith S. Bernard is in heauen and is onely to be attained vnto by faith patience and perseuerance For as without fayth it is vnpossible to Hillarius please God so without patience and perseuerance no man shall see God And although indeede the death of the Basill bodie by diuers meanes for diuers causes be vnto many men very tedious and bitter yet the death therof for the testimonie of Gods truth is vnto the godly man most easie most ioyfull most sweete and most delectable because he seeth through the eye of fayth the present performance of all Gods heauenly promises made vnto him in his holy word if he zealously continue constant in the veritie of his Christian profession §. 11. Thou therefore my sonne saith Paule vnto Timothie suffer affliction as a good 2. Tim. 2. 3. 4. souldiour of Iesus Christ No man that warreth entangleth himselfe with the affayres of this life because hee would please him that hath chosen him to be a Souldiour And Christ beeing our Captaine hath Rauisius called vs by the voyce of his Gospell to a spirituall warfare The foes against whom wee must continually fight are fleshlie assaultes worldly wickednes and the deceits of the deuill