testifieth shoulde be perfourmed of our Lorde Iesus Christe in his comming to iudgement And forasmuch as they cannot bryng one title to prooue those things vnlesse it be amongst men starke mad and deceiued with the enchauntment of false libertie For none can lay anye other fundatiō then that is laide which is Iesus Christ and these things not being proued all their dreames must fall it followeth then that the doctrine of Christ muste bee holden as perfect that it is a meere blasphemie and deceipt of the deuill whatsoeuer they vnaduisedly or vainely boast of a greater perfection of their doctrine then the doctrine of Christ whatsoeuer they promise of the libertie of Ecclesiasticall congregations Now in that they obiect that the holy Ghost was promised which should lead them into al trueth it helpeth thē nothing at all for the scripture which testifieth the holy ghost to be promised the same also testifieth that the promise is fulfilled in the disciples of christ If one part of the scripture is to be beleued it is meete that the other also be receiued That therfore which was perfourmed of Christ Iesus in the disciples 1500 yeeres agoe and more they vaynely dreame to be differred vnto their time The Apostles were led by the holy Ghost into all truth asmuche as was necessarie for mans saluation and the same spirite doeth yet seale confirme the same trueth in the hartes of the faithfull And the same scripture also testifieth that the holy Ghost wyl deliuer nothyng differing from the mind and doctrine of Christe but altogeather the same Soo Christ said to his disciples That Spirite of trueth which proceedeth from the father that beareth witnesse of me And agayn It shal teach you al things which I haue tolde you Also He shall glorifie me for hee shall receiue of mine and shewe it vnto you So the Apostle Peter calleth the holy Ghoste whiche GOD hath geuen the witnesse of Christ And Paule agreeing in the same saith None speaking by the spirite of GOD calleth Iesus Execrable And no man can say that Iesus is the Lorde but by the holy Ghost As though he should say here by a man may knowe whether any be led by the spirite of God or no to wit yf hee loue Christ and his doctrine and studie to promote it In vayne therefore vnder the pretence of the holy ghost is any other doctrine then of the Lord Iesus Christ hoped for seeing that it is the office of the holy Ghost to beare witnesse of Christ to glorifie him to teache his woordes and to declare those thinges which he hath receiued of him But if the aduersaries wil yet further saie that there is mention made in the Scripture of an imperfect and perfect doctrine and an imperfect one to be deliuered to the Apostles which at the length shoulde giue place to a more perfect according to that For we know in part we prophesy in part but when that which is perfect is come then that which is in part shal be abolished Also Nowe we see through a glasse darkly c. We answere that the Apostle conferreth not the doctrine or Apostolicall knowledge with any other which euer shoulde bee reuealed in this worlde For in these last dayes God hath spoken vnto vs by his sonne that not without cause the time of Christ might be called the last houre the vttermost and very last time the ende of the world to wit because that by him the last declaration of the wil of God shoulde be made but hee respecteth the worlde to come after the resurrection in heauen where mortalitie being put of that which is in part shal be abolished And in the same place the scripture speaking of that perfection of man calleth vs backe to the comming of Iesus Christ vnto vs from heauen So the Euangelist Iohn When Christ sayth he shall appeare we shall be like vnto him for because wee shall see him as he is And Paule to the Philippians vseth these words We looke for from heauen the Sauiour euen our Lord Iesus Christ who shal chaunge our vile bodies that they may be fashioned like vnto his glorious bodie Also to the Coloss When Christ which is our life shall appeare then shal you also appeare with him in glorie And in the Epistle to the Corinthians disputing of the glorie of the faithfull he willeth them to looke vnto the comming of Christ And least that any shoulde thinke that the apostle spake of any other time then of the last resurrection they write that they also shall come to the perfect knowledge sight of god Then saith the Apostle I shall see face to face now I know in part but thē I shal know euen as I am knowen Also he shall change our bodies We shal see him as he is c. But if the Apostles had respected that time which our aduersaries will haue they had bereft themselues of perfect knowledge Our aduersaries therefore are deceiued who after the manner of impacient men wil haue that time of perfection to come before the season and woulde drawe it vnto this worlde But this perfection of knowledge which Paul speaketh of differeth not by nature and of it selfe from that vnperfect doctrine and knowledge but onely it differeth in manner as well in enioying as also in vnderstanding it For now we haue neede of sundrie helpes to atteine to the knowledge of God and to this knowledge may alwayes in this life some thing be added but in the life to come the same knowlege which here is had of him out of his worde shal not bee changed into any other but shal be made perfect by a newe meanes and shall bee had by the onely beholding of god Onely therefore the meanes of obtayning this knowledge shal be diuers and the reuealing more full Because God shal be all in all And that which the Apostle writeth to the Hebrues Therefore leauing the doctrine of the beginning of Christ let vs be led forwarde vnto perfection not laying agayne the foundation of repentaunce from dead workes and of faith toward God of the doctrine of baptisme in laying on of hands of the resurrection from the dead of eternal iudgement He declareth not that there shal at length come a time in this worlde in which there shal be reuealed a more perfect doctrine then that of Christ the Apostles But he calleth the doctrine of the generall mystery of the priesthood of Christ a certayne perfect doctrine in comparison to the first principles of the Catechisme As are the profession of amendement of life of faith in God the doctrine of baptisme and the laying on of hands the article of the resurrection of the dead of the iudgement to come which are as it were the chiefe principles of religion which generally ought to be knowen and vnderstood euen of children when as al do not so perceiue the
Lorde had pardoned him his sinne therefore euery man that is godly shoulde bee emboldened likewise in their sinnes to flie vnto him wherevpon it followeth that euery man that is godly is subiect to sinne And if this offence of Dauid which had pardon from the Lorde had not beene ommitted after his calling and walking vnto the worde of God then could it not haue beene an argument of hope for the godly because it was committed before he began to liue in the feare of God and therfore their estate condition should be so diuerse that one coulde not yeelde the helpe of hope vnto an other Now if euery godly man should haue hope by it then is there no man so illuminate but he remaineth subiect to sinne and therefore must liue by faith and with the true Church of God beleeue the forgiuenesse of sinnes Nowe forgiuenesse of sinne if H.N. his doctrine may be beleeued is not to bee had or hoped for without this his familie of loue so that euery man not beeing of that his number is shut out of the Church and kingdome of Christ and liueth without all hope of mercy and forgiuenesse from the Lorde For these be his wordes in explaning this Article No man shall obteine grace nor forgiuenesse of sinnes at God his hands without thissame holy communialtie of Christ for thissame is the holy christianity the Familie of loue wherein God himselfe dwelleth liueth walketh c. H. N. The xi Article Wee beleeue the resurrection of the fleshe wee confesse that the dead which are deceased or fallen a sleepe in Christ rise vp with their bodyes and appeare with Christ in his glory where through the whole house of Israell becommeth erected or restored in the last day according to the promises Answeare That the resurrection of the body is wholy and altogither a spirituall matter according to the doctrine of H. N it plainely appeareth in all his bookes I in deede he vseth this worde body in this place but as his accustomed kind of dealing hath beene heeretofore that the simple may the sooner be deceiued thereby in not suspecting any straunge matter to be there where they heare no other beside the knowen accustomed wordes He calleth it the resurrection of the body be cause it is acccōplished while yet we are liuing in this body for so many as nowe imbrace the doctrine of H. N. and are growen to perfection in the same in his iudgement those are risen from the deade and that is with him the resurrectiō of the body in the last day whervnto he draweth all the scriptures which mention the day of iudgement the second comming of Christ when as wel good as bad shall rise againe in the fleshe and be adiudged either to ioy or paine euerlastingly That thus he thinketh of the resurrection it is plaine and euidently to be seene in his Euangelie Chapter 35.8 Beholde in this present day is this Scripture fulfilled and according to the testimonie of the scripture the raysing vp and resurrection of the Lordes dead commeth also to passe presently in thissame day through the appearing of the comming of Christ in his maiestie which resurrection of the dead seeing that the same is come vnto vs from Gods grace we doe likewise in this present day to an Euangelie or ioyfull message of the kingdome of God and christ publish in al the world vnder the obediēce of the loue In which resurrection of the dead God sheweth vnto vs that the time is now fulfilled that his dead or the dead that are fallen on sleepe in the Lord rise vp in this day of his iudgement appeare vnto vs in godly glory which shall also frō henceforth liue in vs euerlastingly with Christ and raigne vpon the earth wherein the scripture becommeth fulfilled in this present day like as there standeth written therof And in the seconde chapter of the Euangelie Section 3. For that cause awake now in the spirit ye louers of the trueth and throughly measure or try out the ground of this same spirit which to the making aliue of all the dead that are deceassed in the Lord is proceeded from God and meruaile not at any of thissame but search or examine the scripture whether that it make not mention of the same Likewise in the 4. Chapter Section 14. For this cause our hope standeth now in this day very little on many inhabitours of the worlde for of them there shall fewe come which shall stand minded or adioyne them vnto the loue and the requiring of her seruice with all their heart and yet many fewer which shall perseuer therin vnto the ende Therefore hope we with ioy much more on the appearing of the dead which dye in the Lorde or are dead in him to wit that they in their resurrectiō from the death shall liuingly come vnto or meete with vs For all the dead of the Lord or members of Christ shall now liue arise with their bodyes we shall assemble vs with them and they with vs to one body in Iesus Christ into one louely beeing of the loue and be altogither concordable in the loue and peace of Iesu Christ He that shall reade the booke of H.N. with iudgement shall soone see and perceiue that the knowledge of his doctrine and obedience thereunto is with him all in-all it is the cōming of Christ the sound of the last Trumpet the resurrection from the deade and euerlasting life of many I will giue you one place for proofe heereof it is in his Euangelie Chapter 38. Section 2 Wherefore awake now all lift vp your heades heare and see the wonderfull actes of God and haue regarde vnto the sounde of the laste Trumpet and consider the forefront of the true Tabernacle of God wherein the beginning of the true God seruice and of the vpright Christian life becōmeth erected the holie of the true tabernacle of God wherin the true God seruice and his requiring the obedience of the belief euen vnto the vpright christian life is accomplished the vaile remoued from the most holy the most holy of the true tabernacle of god wherein the perfection of the true Christian life and al that which God hath spoken from the beginning and promised thorow his Prophets is set vp the kingdome of the God of heauens full of al pure beautie and heauenly powers wherein all mindes of pure hartes doe liue with christian triumph free without feare the day of the righteous iudgement of God in which the compasse of the earth becommeth iudged with righteousnesse the iudgement seat of Christ before which all things must needes be manifested the perfect being of God and Christ in his abundant clearnesse of the godly light the true rest of al the children of God in their perfect louelinesse and vpright being the mysterie of the heauenly trueth wherein the right seruice of loue hath his ministration the declaring of the spirituall treasures or riches
For mark their meating you shal perceiue that alwaies the one draweth vpō the other wil neuer leaue him before he haue either a leg or an arme of him And in asmuch as partly by his dark speaking partly by his allegorical expositiō he hath hatched a mōster of perfectiō which he calleth Christ I haue added to the end of this booke 3. seuerall short treatises of those 3. special matters concluding the booke with a Sermō which I made heretofore moued therunto by the iudgemēt of some not only for that the present occasiō did then force me to stād vpō that historie of Christ his death which H.N. would wholy and altogither transforme into an allegorie but also for that in so large a matter of doctrine to reforme our iudgemēt I wished there might be somwhat ioined to further our cōuersation I haue likewise set down the iudgemēt of some godly learned as wel of the Dutch church as of our owne touching these heresies of H.N. that thēselues may see I am not alone neither in my opiniō of thē neither in this necessarie cōtention by writing with thē These fruits of my labours my very good Lord I present vnto your honour as a publike testimonie of my humble duetie good will vnto your L. not only in respect of my selfe for your L. great good deseruings towarde me but also in regarde of many others who find a safe harborow vnder your honourable protection and haue such an easie accesse entrance vnto your honour in all their good occasions and lawfull requests as bindeth vs vnto all duetie and thankfulnesse vnto his maiestie and your honor as his instrument for the same Which hath made me bold at this time to cōmend vnto your honourable care the redresse of a dangerous enormity which of late hath broken out in this land I meane this Athisme brought in by H.N. that his household who will bee called the Familie of loue The seruice your honour may doe vnto God in it is great the hope to preuaile against them in like maner is good for as true Religion spreadeth and increaseth vnder the crosse so punishment and affliction is the bane of heresie and false religion With what care and conscience such matters are to bee dealt withall that which is read in Deut. 14. may sufficiently direct your honour Where it is plainly declared that if anie shall secretly intice vnto a strange religion either friend husband or brother the nearest bondes that nature or friendship hath they stand charged not only to reueale it but also that their handes shall be first vpon them to put them to death To bewray the secretes of a deare friend who is to a man as his owne soule seemeth to flesh and blood an heynous matter to deale so with a mans brother the sonne of his mother or with his daughter the bowels of his owne bodie the law of nature doeth crie out of it and yet for the glorie of our God we are not onely in such a case to reueale this against them but our selues to be the chiefe doers in the death execution of thē which telleth vs that with the true worship of God and religion neither friendship nor nature may enter anie comparison nay it telleth vs that at the bringing in of Idolatry a strange religion how secretly soeuer the seedes therof shal be sowen rather thē by the impunitie therof Gods glorie should be defaced and the daunger that is due for the neglect thereof should be susteined we are not onely to lay aside naturall affection but euē to breake into our owne bowels to bathe our selues in our owne blood The case so nearly touching the glorie of our God I am in good hope that this which hath bene said shall sufficiently perswade your honour to enter into some speedie care consideration how to suppresse so great grieuous a danger Your L. labour in this cause so directly and so daungerously dealing against the highest hee can neuer forget to recompence who hath promised to reward euē to a cup of cold water bestowed vpō the least of those little ones who doe beleeue in his name The God of all glorie make you partaker of that honour which is assured vnto all them who by these such like fruites of faith shall trauaile the ratifying of their owne election and the remouing of all such enormities or blemishes which either hurt the health or hinder the beautie of the Church Your Lordships most bounden to serue in the Lorde Iohn Knewstub To the Reader grace and peace THe holie Apostle speaking of the comming of the Romishe Antichrist sheweth that the Lorde woulde set vp that rennagate seat as it were an executioner or sergeant of his wrathfull iudgement against those which should not haue the loue of the trueth that they which would not effectually beleeue it receiuing sentence of the Lord himself to beleeue lies effectually shoulde be put to the execution thereof by the ministerie of that seat The truth wherof as in other places of Europe so in this our Countrey especially is euidently seene where the Lord sitting in his Assise not twise a yeare but all the whole yeare long reuengeth the shameful contempt and neglect of his truth by sending numbers to their stie or walter againe which beeing drawne into the fouldes of Christ by the preaching of the Gospell behaued themselues coldly and carelesly therein And albeit in long processe of time this only cāker of Poperie be able to eat vp the whole church yet the sinnes of our Countrey crie so loude that is to say are done so openly and so vncōtrolledly in the sight of the Lord that as if he woulde make a short hande of all he setteth vpon vs with diuerse engines at once to pull downe that which he hath so graciously builded and with diuerse axes layde euen to the roote vtterly to cutte vp that which his owne hand hath planted And to follow the former comparison as where there are great store of fellons the Iustices of Assise are faine to seuer and single themselues to make the speedier hande of them euen so through heapes of those which haue no loue of the truth in them the lord is as it were faine to erect vp other iudgement seates by the which hee may ease himselfe of them and to appoint other hangmen for their quicker dispatch to the place wherevnto they are adiudged And therefore contenteth not himself now with the heresie of the Papistes which haue beene a long time the principall sincke to receiue the outcastes of the Church nor with the heresie of the Arians and Anabaptists as it were other houses of office whereunto some of the filth of the Church hath beene discharged but stirreth vp other brandes of hell to set fire as it were in euerie corner of the Church Of this sort are the vnlouely companie of them that call themselues the Familie of loue Wherevpon it may
challenged to himselfe in his title as you hearde before to iudge the compasse of the earth with righteousnesse and that the God of heauen hath nowe declared him selfe and his Christ to his elect with the fulnes of his garnishing and spiritual heauenly riches to an euerlasting house for God his dwelling the which as he saith is the true vndisturbable kingdome full of all godly power ioy and heauenly beautifulnesse wherin is the fulnesse of eternal life And in the 35. chapter of his Euangelie he confirmeth the same in these words Behold in this present day is this scripture fulfilled according to the testimony of the scripture the raising vp and the resurrection of the Lordes dead commeth also to passe presently in this same day through the appearing of the cōming of Christ in his maiestie Which resurrectiō of the dead seeing that the same is come vnto vs frō gods grace we do likewise in this presēt day to an Euangelie or ioyful message of the kingdōe of god christ publish in al the world vnder the obediēce of the loue In which resurrectiō of the dead God sheweth vnto vs that the time is now fulfilled that his dead or the dead which are fallē a sleepe in the lord rise vp in this day of his iudgement and appeare vnto vs in godly glory which shal also frō henceforth liue in vs euerlastingly with Christ raigne vpon the earth Wherin the scripture becōmeth fulfilled in this presēt day like as there standeth writtē therof He affirmeth here in plaine words ▪ that the dead w are fallen a stepe in the Lord rise vp in this day of his iudgemēt appeare vnto H.N. the illuminate elders of his familie in godly glory He affirmeth like wise that they shal frō hēceforth liue in him his felow elders euerlastingly thē the with what can be more erronious For by this doctrine the resurrectiō should be onely of thē that sleepe in the Lord that is of the good of which number he taketh thē to be alone who now receiue his doctrine euerlasting life which they rise vp to enioy should be onely to liue after that course of life which he his illuminat felow elders do keepe For he saith that they are to liue in him and in his fellow elders euerlastingly to reigne vppon the earth If their eies bee not altogeather closed vp who fauour the doctrine of H.N. they may well discerne that this resurrection is not that resurrection whiche the Scripture mencioneth neither is this chaunge of them that imbrace his doctrine that which the Apostle reporteth 1. Corinth 15.52 Which as he testifieth there is to be perfourmed in a moment in the twinckling of an eye at the last Trumpe Nowe I am wel assured experience wil tel thē beside the doctrine of H.N. which confirmeth the same that they are not by and by in a moment after they haue hearde the blaste of H.N. his doctrine partakers of the resurrection that is made elders and illuminate men In the 37. Chapter of of his Euangelie likewise this same matter is testified of him more cleerely yf possible that may be Yea happy is he which now respecteth wel the true light and assembleth him in this day vnto the mercy seate of the Maiestie of God and Christ to his saluation for after this day there shall no day of grace come vppon the earth because all the workes of God and his Prophecies bee come fulfilled according to the scripture in the same And for that the righteous iudgement of God to an euerlasting death and damnation of all vngodly and to an eternall life and saluation of all the holy ones and elect of God becommeth also executed therein This opinion of his is confuted before at large in my answere to that title which hee challengeth vnto him selfe This onely testimony I wyll adde to the former for the ouerthrowe of this opinion If to doe good and liue well be the resurrection of life howe is that true which S. Iohn testifieth that they which haue doone good shall come foorth of the Graues vnto the resurrection of life With what trueth or in what sence can it be said of a man that he commeth forth to that which already he hath in him selfe and is possessed of Nay if this bee the resurrection to arise vp to the imbrasing of H.N. his doctrine with what trueth can it be saide that they which alreadie haue doone good shal come forth vnto the resurrectiō of life whē he is of opinion that we are voide of al goodnes grace vntil we become seasoned with this seruice of the loue And howe can they which haue doone good come out of the graue when by his doctrine they haue come out of theyr graues before they haue done good For death burial vnto sinne are in order before the resurrection vnto righteousnes and newnesse of life What comfort can our faith finde in this article of our beliefe yf H.N. his doctrine be true If all were perfourmed which hee promiseth yet can wee come by no other comfort from him then this that yf wee shall imbrace his doctrine then shall wee lyue as hee doeth heere vppon earth This is all the benefite that our faith obteyneth by the resurrection of H.N. his Christ from the dead H.N. The eight Article Wee beleeue in the holy Ghost and that the same in the oldnesse of the tyme when the dayes of the patience of Christ in the obedience of the holy and gratious woorde ▪ and his seruice of loue are fulfilled becommeth powred foorth from the right hand of God through Iesus Christ namely ouer them all that haue followed Christ in his death of the crosse obediently and haue kept his doctrine with the word of his patience euen vnto the ende that is which are passed through or haue accomplished the Passeouer with Christ till vnto the seconde birth from the dead Or vnto the new life of the true being of Christ Answeare Wee doe heare nothing from H. N. to mooue vs too thinke that the holy Ghost is God which thing woulde not haue beene omitted if hee had been sounde therein seeing he openeth vnto his familie the principles of religiō whereof this is one of the chiefe and setteth downe beside the woordes of our Creede his owne exposition explication of the same seyng also that of all the churches which professe Christianitie throughout the whole worlde there is no one that hath vnto this day imbrased his doctrine or ioyned with him in religion and those which throughly know hym professe warre with him considering likewise that the scripture hath not left vs without sufficient light to prooue the holy Ghost not onely to be God in substaunce one with the father and the sonne but also distinct in person I say in these and suche like respectes his silence in so principal a thing bewrayeth him selfe not to be sounde
of the heauenly goods which are administred and brought thorow the seruice of loue to an euerlasting perfection vnto the vpright of heart and wherin al vnperfect or childish things Images figures and shadowes do ceasse becommeth nowe in this present day O ye louers of the truth euangelized and declared vnto you all and thereto also yee all so well as we were created for to liue therein and are called and bidden vnto the same out of the grace and mercie of God by me H. N. in whom God hath sealed the dwelling of his glorie and his holie name Wee are taught out of the worde of God to beleeue and assuredly to looke for the resurrection of this our flesh which by death is taken downe and layde into the dust For by that league and couenant wherein the Lord standeth bound vnto vs to become our God he hath not onely taken our soule but our fleshe and bodie also into his fatherly protection and that not for the time of this life alone but in like maner for the life to come And therefore our Sauiour Christ Iesus by these words of the couenant proueth that the dead shal rise againe yea that Abraham who had bene alreadie partaker of rising from sinne in truth the shadow whereof H.N. vrgeth for the rising againe of the flesh should haue yet an other resurrection which is to rise vp in flesh and bone to inherite euerlasting comfort as well in bodie as in soule For as the godly doe glorifie GOD here vpon earth both in bodie and soule so shall they likewise be glorified of him in both in the life to come And this is an article of our beliefe and especiall comfort left vnto Christians But how can it be that H.N. should be priuie vnto these such like comfortes who is vtterly ignoraunt of Christ the procurer of thē The Apostle Paule whose conuersation was in heauen and therefore already possessed of the rising from sinne looked notwithstanding for this resurrection of the bodie when it should be chaunged and made like vnto the glorious bodie of Iesus Christ as it is written in the Epistle to the Philippians But our cōuersation is in heauen from whence also wee looke for the sauiour euen the Lord Iesus Christ who shall chaunge our vile bodies that it may be fashioned like vnto his glorious bodie according to the working whereby hee is able euen to subdue all things vnto himselfe It is manifest then by this which hath bene spoken that the resurrectiō of the bodie cannot be drowned as H.N. his doctrine doeth teach vs in the rising from sinne and wickednesse And beside in this short abstract of the principal points of our faith is it possible to perswade any man that one and the same thing shoulde bee the matter and argument of sundrie articles Now by the doctrine of H.N. this article is the same in effect with those of Christ his rising the third day frō the dead his ascending into heauē his sitting at the right hand of God his father yea it is the same in meaning with those of the holy ghost the holy catholike Church the cōmunion of Saints the forgiuenes of sinnes For all these be nothing else besides that estate of life which his doctrine doeth describe to bee the louely being and that estate of perfection which his illuminate elders bee possessed of What cause haue all true hearted Christians to crie out agaynst this doctrine which shrinketh vp so manie and speciall comfortes so proper and peculiar vnto them H. N. The .xij. Article And we beleeue one euerlasting life Amen We confesse that the same euerlasting life is a true light of men and that God hath made and chosen him the man hereto that hee shoulde liue in the same light euerlastingly it is verie true Answere This euerlasting life which H. N. speaketh of is no other thing then that doctrine which he professeth And therfore he calleth it a true light of men according as we haue heard before in his title that in respect of this doctrine he chalengeth vnto him selfe to bee called the true light of the perfect being alledging the same place that here is cited for proofe thereof But least some might say that this place is not plaine inough to warrant this to be their opinion let vs heare himself open his owne meaning more at large These are his owne wordes in the 34. Chapter of his Euangelie Section 4. In this same day or last time namely in the perfection of the workes of God in his righteous iudgement the God of heauē hath now declared himself his christ together with al his saints to vs his elect also made a dwelling with vs brought euen so vnto vs out of his holy being the most holie of his true tabernacle with the fulnes of his garnishing and spiritual heauenly riches to an euerlasting fast standing Ierusalem and house for Gods dwelling according to the Scripture the which is the verie true vndisturbable kingdome full of all godly power ioy and of all heauenly beautifulnesse wherin the land of the lord with fulnesse of eternall life and louely sweetenesse is sung from euerlasting to euerlasting and wherein all mindes of pure heartes doe dwell liue and walke with freedome and Christian triumph in all loue This day of loue is with him as you heare the last time and therefore nowe doeth God make his dwelling with vs and bringeth the fulnesse of his spiritual riches And this kingdome as he sayeth here is the verie true vndisturbable kingdome full of all godly ioy and heauenly beautifulnes wherein is the fulnesse of eternall life He calleth it the eternall life because this doctrine must reigne on earth for euer and therefore in his exposition vpon this Article he doeth not affirme that anie one man shall liue in the same light euerlastingly but speaking indefinitely sayeth the man shall liue in it euerlastingly because there shall bee from hencefoorth in all times hereafter men founde that shall walke in perfecte obedience vnto this Doctrine It appeareth likewise out of his Euangelie that he professeth euerlasting life to be nothing else but his doctrine So that to liue in perfect obedience vnto that is no other thing then to liue in the life euerlasting in that light that shineth therein And it is therefore called euerlasting because it shal be professed for euer and no religion preuaile against it These bee his owne woordes Euangelie 37.13 Therefore also is this day or light of the loue with his seruice in the most holie the last day and the perfection or conclusion of all the workes of God in the which God himselfe with his Christ and with all the thousandes of his Saintes as in the moste holy of his true tabernacle appeareth and commeth vnto the beleeuers and obedient ones to the requiring of his worde to an eternall rest of his holy ones and to a godly consolation for all afflicted
prayers howe some doe value them wee can not be ignorant The holy Ghost when he hath reproued the people for their outward worship in sacrifices willeth them to call vpon the Lord in the day of trouble promising that he wil heare them they shal glorifie him making praier a special worship of God setting it before the outward sacrifices in the 4. of Deu. it is made the peprerogatiue of the people of God because there are none in suche a case as they be who haue their Gods so nigh them as our GOD is nigh vnto vs in all that wee call vnto him for Then must it needes be that they are in an euill taking that see no fruite of their prayers it being the speciall blessing of the people of God to haue him nigh in their praiers by graunting their petitiōs But forasmuch as it is saide to be the voyce and affection of the hart and no man being asked will geue out so slenderly of his praiers Let vs come to a further examination of it The most sort of men haue no profite by their prayers because they make not conscience to know do those things which the Lord by his word hath reuealed to be pleasing in his sight Whatsoeuer we aske sayth S. Iohn we receiue of him because we keepe his cōmaundementes and doe those things which are pleasyng in his sight No maruaile thē yf those be farre from hauing their prayers heard of the Lorde who haue neither knowledge nor liking of his woorde And a great sort of others who in profession haue receiued his worde when they want any thing if they see meanes how to come by it either pray not at all but forthwith vse the meanes either els if they pray it is but of fashion as being in their iudgement sure safe already If they se no likelihoode to atteine it being without hope they let prayer fall So if any thing fall out where there was the worke of an ordinarie meane it steppeth betwene God and his prayse and darkeneth the light of prayer If otherwise any thing come where prayer for want of fayth was let downe that is put ouer to miracle or fortune therefore in hart of experience they cannot say that they are any whit beholding vnto theyr prayers But wee learne in the booke of GOD that the godly pray in matters moste harde to be brought to passe and most vnlikely in regard of any vsual and ordinarie meanes and yet are heard and geue him the praise There are named in the 107. Psalme diuers matters that seeme to be meere casual cōming without al meanes yet praied for graūted with praise returned to the geuer vnder those are al other also vnderstoode that may be thought to be as casual There is mention made of the Mariners in the Sea tossed with tempestes nowe hoysed vp now plunged downe tyll theyr heartes faile within them yet when they pray vnto the Lord they are hearde of him then do they geue him thankes Other casuall thinges are mentioned and al comprehended But in the last verse the holy Ghost maketh it only the wise and godly mans worke to vnderstande this in trueth to comprehende it and by true and inwarde assuraunce thereof to geue him the praise for it The vngodly therefore in ordinarie thinges are hindred by the meanes inextraordinarie they see nothing but chaunce and therefore they say What profite shall wee haue yf we pray The children of GOD knowe that nothing is pure vnto them vnlesse it be sanctified with prayer and therefore they resorte to him in all their necessities by prayer They poure their griefes into his bosome with desire to obtayne that they might praise his mercies and they surely finde if they continue asking either deliueraunce either els a tollerable condition which doeth assure them that it is not in vaine to seeke the Lorde and that the ende wil be happy Prayer for benefites acknowledgeth God to be the geuer and maketh prayse to be geuen in trueth Not to pray to GOD is to be an vtter enimie to his glory not to pray particularly as necessitie requireth is to enuie him and his praise and the practise of Dauid in particular considerations making his prayers and Psalmes doeth reproue it The Papistes take Gods grace to be throwen downe indifferently And men not experienced of his goodnes particularly must needes thinke that hee hath put all thinges vnto a generall gouernment for as for any particular experience of his goodwill towardes them they haue it not Wee must denie this vngodlinesse that groweth by prayer into no experience of GOD his goodnesse Doe we thinke that any man shall euer safely put him selfe ouer vnto the hope of the promises at the houre of death which all his life long hee neuer tried to be true before Wee must also deny worldly lustes and not only those which tende to hurt our neighbour in body goods or good name but euen those that hold vs so in this worlde as wee can get no true taste in the pleasures of an other For wee are holden captiue of worldly lustes in one respect or other vntill we become newe creatures looking for that glory which shall appeare at the comming of Christe The next thing required is to liue soberly This sobrietie is a gift that moderateth the minde in his delightes affections and may therefore well be tearmed the moderatour of the minde It is a gift that doeth keepe the minde from pleasures altogeather vnlawful and in those that bee lawfull it keepeth a man from the excesse and abuse of them That it is not onely restrained to the filthy desires of the fleshe may be proued in the. 12. to the Roma Where the Apostle appointeth this gift and grace of God to order euery man in his calling That hee take not vppon him but according to that measure which GOD hath geuen him For in very deede the minde of man hath many thinges beside the filthie desires of the fleshe to ouerturne it wherin this gift of GOD hath good vse It was this gift that Paul had when as he professed him selfe to haue learned to be riche and to be poore to haue ben instructed to abounde and also to want to be content withall estates and to holde him selfe happy in them as in a portion sent him from the lord In may be thought no great gifte for a riche man to learne to be riche yet doeth the Apostle say it is a matter that requireth learning and doeth ascribe it vnto Christe his worke within him It is therfore worth the labour to enter into some farther cōsideratiō what he should meane in this matter The meaning he giueth in the same place whē he saith I haue learned in what estate soeuer I am therwith to be content A lesson necessarie for all men A lesson necessarie for riche men to learne them to be riche that is to holde them selues contented