therfore to annymate vs in spirit hée confirmed the assured certaintie of his glorie and our glorie and of his glorious comming in the end of the world when he sayde to his Apostles that some there were among them that should not taste of death till they saw the sonne of man Math. 17. come in his kingdome and so in a visiō or spiritual dream by transfiguring him self vpon mount Tabor before Péeter Iames and Iohn he shewed the vision of his owne glorie and of our glorification by Moyses and Helyas appearing also with garments of immortalitie And thus he presented to their spirituall sight the excellencie of his comming again at the latter day when his face did shine as the sunne and his clothes as white as the light and so pure in all whitnes as no Fuller can make vppon the earth Peter 2.1 Wherfore Péeter the chéef beholder thereof dooth testifie saying With our eyes wee saw his maiestie euen then verely when hee receiued of God the Father honour and glorie and when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glorie Iohn 1. This is my deare beloued sonne in whōe I delight And Iohn witnesseth also the s ame That hee saw the glorie of him as the glorie of the onlye begotten sonne of the Father and the great shyne of his glorie appeared vnto Paule after his assention Acts. 9.26 aboue the brightnes of the sun by which hee stirreth vs to expect his glorious comming in the end of the world and inflame vs with the desire of glorifying that wee might walke as Children of the light and sonnes of God in all righteousnes of conuersation according to his Gospell that wee may bee heires of his glorious kingdome of eternall ioy when he shall appeare to saluation to chaunge our vile and corrupt earthly bodies to bee facioned and made lyke to his glorious bodie Phil. 13. Moreouer our blessed Sauiour doth giue vs great consolation and hope by such Reuelations of heauenly expectation of blessednes to come when hée presented to Iohn the vision of his moste wunderfull brightnes and preciousnes of glorie beeing entred into heauen and set down on the right hand of the maiestie on high by shyning shewing foorth the spirituall semblance of his pre-excellent beutie power and glorie in which he is Alpha and Omega the first and the last and was dead and is alyue for euermore and shall come againe quickly and will not tarrie any longer then till his Father hath made his enemies his foote-stoole Cor. 1.15 And now hee appeared in the preheminence of exceeding and incomparable glorie and power in as much as hée hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name then the Angells and creatures Heb. 10. seeing by him all thinges were created thinges that are in heauen Colloss 1 and thinges that are in earth thinges visible and thinges inuisisible whether they be maiestie lordship rule or power all thinges hath their creation and being by him and in him and that hee is the first begotten of all Creatures the head of the congregation and first beginning and begoten of the dead that in all thinges hee mihght haue the preheminēce beeing the only begotten sonne of GOD. So that according to his moste excellent worthines of preheminence hée being the cheife lyuing corner stone of the whole buylding and the eternall head of the Temple of his Father did appeare to Iohn sitting according to his hye diguitie in the cheif and moste royall seate of the Temple in the midst of the seauen Candlestickes Esdras 4. ◠according to the vision of Esoras Hée was in the midst of the multitude vppon mount Sion beeing a condigne place for him hauing the goulden and heauenly censour to offer vp the swette cense and odoures of the prayers and petitions of the whole Saincts and congregation wherof he is the head through his owne handes vppe before the glorious presence of the heauenly Father vp vpon the golden Alter of GOD. Reue 8 ◠beeing clothed with a linning garment down to the feete as whyte as snow Daniel 10. arcocding to the said vision to Daniell answering héerto being his robes of the eternall puritie and of his euerlasting and royall préesthood for euer according to the order of Melchesedech representing the sanctifying of his precious and eternall holynes and godlynes in prays ing the omnipotent Father of glorie for euer in his holy Ierusalem or Temple of glorified Saincts and hee was girded about the breast or paps with a golden girdell reprsenting the pure and approoued confirmation of eternall veritie vndfiled chastitie and sinceritie perfect obedience and eternall wisdome righteousnes and treuth to be conioyned to his glorious body and his head and his heare were most amiable white lyke pure wooll or snowe shewing thereby a setled grauitie of all true godlynes a modest reuerence of all true honor a confirmed experience of all deuine patience and the only coullor of purenes and clearnes of mynde without chaunge for euer and on his head a golden Crowne shewing that hée was the glorious king of kings Heb. 4. and his eyes as cleare lamps and cleare flames of fire shewing that all things were naked to his fight and that hée was the only light of all things and his armes and feete like fine polished brasse burning bright in the furnace or lyke pillers of fire shewing that he had a sure strength stedfastnes in all his waies bé eing tryed faithfull in doing the will of his Father and in performing all his promises and so tryed pure therin as brasse in the furnace and his body was lyke a Crisolite transparent with the beautifull sintillation of golde fire shewing foorth the absolute mirrour of his glorious beautie in all soundnes of one selfe same in him self eternall clearenes of glorie and maiestie and his voice as the voice of a multitude or sound of many waters shewing that he was the head chéeif of the multitude of his people that all voyces and languages weare as one voyce and as one language vnto him and in his and that they should do all things by the direction of his voice for they that be his doe heare his voyce Iohn 10. And now he shall leade the glorified saints vnto fountaines of liuing water And on his right hand seuen starres shewing that as hee doing his Fathers will doth sit on the right hand of the Father in heauen so his starres which are the ministers of his worde being conteined vnder the figure 7. the Sabboth day number of perpetuall rest and holinesse feeding his sheepe setting foorth his glorie and doing by him and in him the will of his father shall sit with him in his seat euen on his right hand as he hath done with his Father according to Daniel They that haue taught other shall shine as the starres and glister like the shining of heauē Daniel 12. And out of his mouth
had yea aboue his sweete sonne Isac whome he loued as his owne life notwithstanding faithfully did Abraham preferre the loue of his almightie God and maker aboue the life of Isac offering him in sacrifice to the Lorde for which cause the eternall creatour to make his promise more certainely to sticke fast in Abraham and in all his posteritie sware by him selfe shewing that there was no God but him selfe saying in Genesis Gen. 22. â— Because thou hast not spared thy only son Isaac to offer him a sacrifice to me I will blesse thee and multiplie thy seede as the starres of heauen and as the sande vpon the sea side and in thy seede shall all the nations of the earth bee blessed because thou hast obeyed my voyce And thus the most merciful god although he cast Adam for his transgression out of Paradise and also destroyed the worlde for sinne yet he sheweth againe the voyce and promise of comfort that hee hath not cast vs off but hath giuen his gratious goodnes to the worlde that all nations through the seede of Abraham should be blessed according to that of the prophet Them I haue created facioned Esay 43. and made for mine honour And nowe the more to iustifie his true promise it is apparent that hee establisheth the foresaide testament to Is aac the first figure of Christ Gen. â—6 by whome all nations are sanctified Saying to Isac I will be with thee and blesse thee The promise for vnto thee and to thy seede will I giue all these countries and through thy seede shall all nations of the earth bee blessed becaus e that Abraham harkened to my voice and kept my ordinances commandements statutes and lawes wherein we are to learne how al our blessednes came of God the father of al goodnes to whom we ought alwaies to be thankefull framing our selues through his grace to be like Abraham in beleeuing and equall with him in obedience and ioyned with him in righteousnes that we may receiue the like praise and honour as God maketh mention of him to Isaac therby to obtaine as Paule promiseth the eternall ioye the praise honour and immortalitie that is due to them that continue in good doing and seeke eternall life Rom. 2. And finally God to seale vp the fulnes of his couenant the more and more to helpe and strengthen our weake harts of beliefe and to allure the children of promise to a fixed hope of his grace and goodnes The promise to Iacob doth reiterate his testament to Iacob that he being the seede of Abraham and Isaac that he shall be the well of liuing waters and that out of his loynes shall come the fountaine of all heauenly blessednes and the water of life grace goodnes saying The land which thou sleepest vpon Gen. 26. will I giue thee thy seed and thy seede shall be as the du st of the earth thou shalt spread abroad west east north and south and through thee and thy seede shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed according to Esay E say 43. I will bring thy seede from the east and gather them togeather from the west I will say to the north let goe and to the south keepe not backe but bringe me my sonnes from farre and my daughters from the ends of the world for all nations shall came in one and bee gathered in one people Gen. 35. for the Lorde saide againe vnto Iacob thou shalt be called Israell grow and multiplie for people and a multitude of people shall spring of thee yea and kings s hall come out of thy loynes and the land which I gaue Abraham and Isaac will I giue vnto thee and vnto thy seede after thee Thus the almightie God of our fathers Abraham Isaac and Iacob did seale the earnest of the inheritance of his euerlasting blessednes and kingdome in Christ with his holy spirite of promise made to our first fathers that he should come of the seede of Abraham according to the flesh by whom we should receaue redemption and saluation therby to be made partakers of Gods glorie And now furthermore after the proceedins of time that the seede of Iacob called Israell was increased to a great kindred of people and holden in bondage in the land of Egypt The Lord most mercifull and mindfull of his promise made to our forefathers Abraham Isaac and Iacob that he would be good vnto their seede raised vp among them Moyses a captaine and prophet that should deliuer and lead his people Israel out of Egypt into the land of Canaan which before he had giuen to Abraham and his seed for an euerlasting possession and this through Gods mightie hand who made a waye in the sea and a foote path in the mightie waters which brought forth the chariots and horses the host and power and drowned theÌ„ in the red sea And then brought his people vnto mount Synay in the wildernes where he gaue them the lawe figured in s tones shewing forth his wonderfull power that they did all tremble for feare and coulde not abide it for the people stood vnder the hill and the hill burnt with fire euen vnto the middes of heauen and there was the sound of a troump voyce of words tempest Deu. 4. darknes cloudes and mist and the Lord spake out of fire and declared his couenant and ordinance Exod. 19. and so terrible was the sight that appeared that Moyses said I feare quake And thus the law was giuen with great feare Exod. 34 and with great glorie for the children of Israell could not behould the face of Moyses for the glorie of his countenance with out a vayle which in Christ is put awaye for if the ministration of the lawe which is to condemnation bee glorious Cor. 2.3 much more doth the ministration of the spirite of promise vnto righteousnes exceede in glory And thus the law which began many hundred yeares after the promis e was added because of transgression as a schoolemaister to teach what sinne ment and not that it could giue life Gal. 3. or disanull the promise made to Abraham for the promise by faith in Iesus doth bring the inheritance and not the law which doth conclude all things vnder sinne for by the déedes of the law shall no man be iustified before God Rom. 3. but are iustified fréely by grace through the redemption that is in Christ Iesus who is the iustifier of them that beleeue in him after the example of righteous Abraham Wherefore the Lord to discouer our filthy nakednes and corruption brought by the sinnes of Adam did giue vs the law that therby we should come to the knowledge of our infirmities vices wretchednes which raigneth in our earthly members thereby knowing our state by the first Adam to be miserable and falne into the daungerous house and prison of al vncleannes being most wretched without hope vnlesse God of his
and wickednes so that it is manifest that the Church of Christ is tyed to no particular place or kingdome but is freely dispersed throughout the whole world wherby it appeareth that the Papists do worke against the streames of Iacob to stop the riuers from the thirstie And now againe the Lord saith Esay 43 44 I will power O Iacob my spirite vpon thy seede and mine increase vpon thy stocke they shall growe together like as the grasse for there shall spring out of them a captaine prince which the Lord shall chalenge to him selfe Iere. 30. Eâ—ay 6. Iere. 33. Es ay 49. who shall open the prison to them that are bound and he is the glad tydings to the poore who shall bring redemption to the captiue and res tore Israel and set vp his honour in Iuda and in Dauids stoole that all nations shall honour him yea kings and princes shall arise and worship this holy one of Ifraell By which the prophets conclude that although we know all the law of Moyses and bee carefull in keeping it yet wee are in prison and bondage to death without we imbrace Christ and preferre him aboue the law and aboue all workes as the onely doore to enter into Gods rest for he doth open the prison wherein we were tyed to damnation by the fetters of Adams corruption who hath the keyes of hell and death according to Esay vnto Sion shal come a redeemer yea the Lord said I will lay a stone in Sion a costly corner stone Esay 59. Esay 28. Zach. Dan. 2. a sure foundation that who so put his trust in hem shall not bee confounded And saith he behold I will hew him out and take away the sinne of the land in one day As saith Daniel there was hewen a stone without handes that smote the image and became a great mountaine which fulfilleth the whole earth so that it is vnpossible to obtaine glorification vnlesse we imbrace this precious stone of Sion neither is it possible for the great Image of the first or laste monarchy of Babylon to withstand or hold back the power of this stone of Sion by whose force the pompe of the Image of Rome shall be broken like an earthen pot that flyeth in many peeces although it please the Lord to suffer that romish beast still to beare a sway among those children which be as Esaw that make light of the birth-right of the eternall kingdome giuen onely by Christes gospell and not by the traditions and fancies of men And therefore that last Image of Babilon must bee shaken a sunder that promiseth other meanes and more waies to winne euerlasting life then onely by this corner stone Wherefore as pure gold is tryed from counterfect by the touch so all ye that feare damnation trye the traditions of that Image of Rome by reading the pure gospell with feare and reuerence to God and with care of your soules health and you shall finde that the gospell which is the true touch of truth will bring thee home againe from the darke dales of Rome to the bright mountaine of Sion of whom the Lord said by Ieremie I will set vp the righteous braunch of Dauid that shall set vp equitie in the earth that Iuda shall be saued Iere. 23. and Israel dwell without feare and they shall call him the Lord our righteous maker for saith the Lord I wil giue you an heardman Iere. 3. after my owne minde which shall feede you with wisedome that Ierusalem shall be called the Lords seate Esay 2. for the law shall come out of Syon and the word of God from Iesalem And therefore we must desire onely to be fed with the wisedome that proceede from this our heauenly heardman imbracing no other word of doctrine but that which he gaue vs from Ierusalem being his pure gospell builded vpon the Apostles and prophets for saith Paule the holy Scripture is able to make the wise to saluation through the faith which is in Christ Iesus Timoth. â— â— And therfore beware least you be spoyled through Philosophy and deceitfull vanitie and through the traditions of men Col. 2. and ordinances after the world and not after Christ for the Lord said by Ieremie I will make a new couenant with the house of Israell that is Iere. 31. I will plant my lawes in their inward parts euen in their hartes and will be their God and from thence forth shall no man teach his brother or neighbour saying know God for they shall all know me from the lowest to the highest according to Ioel Ioel. 2. I will power out my spirite vpon all flesh and your sonnes and daughters shall prophesie your olde men shall dreame dreames and your young men shall see vis ions yea vpon those daies I will powre out my spreit vppon s eruants and Maides Whereby wée may gather that such is the power of the Gospell of Christ and promise of our redemption and saluation that neither the contrary powers of Sathan nor the obstinat malicious or barbarous tyranie of men hath powre to withholde it at the tyme appointed from the people of God for the Lorde hath spoken it that it shall spread ouer the world and that his spyrit shall enter into all fleshe It is against the prophesie of Ioel to hold the Scripture in an vnknow on language So that it is great repugnauce to the ordenaÌ„ce of God to holde back the frute swéet taste of the Gospell from the people by concealing it vnder a cloke of an vnknowen language strange tounge which is a vaile that hydes the face and brightnes of the glory of the Gospell of our saluation from the people that desyre to knowe it sée it and ought to come vnto it as the vayle did hang before Moyses face because the childreÌ„ could not behold the glory of his countenance which God gaue by geuing the law but now we are able through the gift of the spreit of Christ who hath takeÌ„ away the vaile from Moyses giueÌ„ an opeÌ„ fountaine of cléernes to behold the trueth of his gospell of saluatioÌ„ in that it is the Lords bountifull blessing that all flesh should fele the operation of the holy spreit to come to to his waters buy his milke wine witout mony and mony worth which is his gospell that féedeth and nuris heth like milke gladdeth cheareth the hart like wine so that héerby is cléerly condeÌ„ned cast to the ground the traditions of papistrie that lock vp the word of God in an vnknowen language that none can come to Gods holy water without mony or mony worth such is the darnel cockel of their traditioÌ„s as to worrow Chris tes shéep to wrap theÌ„ in blindnes wheÌ„ notwtstanding it ought to be that the gospel should be opened plain manifest and vnclocked that the saying of the prophet may be fulfilled both soÌ„nes daughters maids
the way of godlines and to follow Christe setting our affection in heauen that according to Paule when Christ which is our lyfe shall shewe him self that wée also may appeare with him in glory therfore saieth Iames Coloss 3. be yée patient vnto the comming of the Lord and settle your harts in goodnes Ieames 5. for the comming of the Lord draweth nigh when wée shall see him as hee is and bee lyke him made by him the sonnes of God who shall chaunge our vile bodies to be facioned lyke to his glorious body that wée shal enioy the fruition of his euerlasting tabernacle heauenly Ierusalem at his apperance againe to s aluation wherunto hee called vs by the Gospell to obtaine the glorie that commeth of our Lord Iesus Christe for Christe dyed for vs that wee should be partakers of his kingdome and haue our names in the booke of lyfe as s ayeth the Apostle wée shall be deliuered from this bondage of corruption into the glorious libertie of the sonnes of God Rom. 8. according to Christ s aying I am the resurrectioÌ„ and life he that Iohn 12. beleeueth in mee yea though hee were dead yet shall hee lyue and whoso euer lyueth and beleeueth in mee shall not dye for euer according to Luke Luke 20. They which be made woorthy to inioy the kingdome of the world to come and the resurrection from death can dye no more for they are equall to the Angells and are the sonnes of God for saith Christe Reue. 2 3. He that ouercommeth and is faithfull to the end I will giue him to eate of the tree of lyfe whiche is in the midst of the Paradice of God and he shall haue a crowne of lyfe and shall not be hurt of the second death but haue his name in the booke of lyfe and be a piller in the temple of my God and shall sit with me in my seate and this is the victorie that ouercoÌ„meth the world euen our stedfast and vnfeigned faith in Iesus Christe by whome GOD hath giuen vnto vs eternall lyfe and to bee glorified by him at the day of his appearance when the misterie of Gods will shall be opened in his sonne Iesus Christe at his comming at the end of the world at which time shall be performed that all that haue done well shall go into euerlasting lyfe and all that hath done euill into euerlasting dampnation Therfore let vs fight the good fight of faith and walk as children of the day waiting with stedfast hope for the adoption and fruition of the heauenly kingdome that wée may méete him ioyfully comming in the cloudes and receiue the garland of glorification crown of eternall lyfe Iohn 1.5 and so be clothed with our heauenly mansion and translated into his kingdome there receiuing the glorious garments of immortalitie and the blessednes of our new IerusaleÌ„ where beholde loe wée shall shine as bright as the sunne beames béeing in all glorie in the presence of the brightnes of our omnipotent and resplendant GOD. To the obtaining of the high rewarde whereof watch and pray that your conuersation may be according to the Gospell and therefore let this be your watchman while you heare do lyue to think 〈…〉 Saint Ierome that whether you eate or drink or what so euer elles you dooe that moste dreadfull Troumpet soundeth in your eares Aryse you dead and come vnto Iudgement O Lord God almightie which art and wast and art to come who art Alpha and Omega to thee be all prayse Reue. 7. honor and glorie and all power and dignitie be ascribed to the almightie maker sitting vpon the seate and vnto the Lamb for euermore for now all thy people are gathered togither in thy sonne Iesus Christe that the misterie of thy holy will may be declared Ephe. 1. beeing called by the troump of the Arch-angell to come vnto the mouÌ„t SioÌ„ and to the citie of the liuing God the celestial Ierusalem and to an innumerable sight of Angels Heb. 12. and vnto the congrogation of the first borne soÌ„nes which are written in heauen and to God the iudge of all and to the spirits of iust and perfect men to Iesus the mediator of the new Testament Phil. 3. who dooth change our vile bodies to be facioned like to his glorious body therfore to thee be prayse honour and power world with out end AMEN THE GLORIOVS AND BEAVTIFVL GARlande of mans glorification CAP. 3. The mysterie of the glorious comming of Christ at the end of the worlde and howe he shall sit in his glittering seate of Maiestie in all brightnesse of glorie power and dominion And where and howe all thinges both in heauen and earth shall be gathered together in Christ and see his glorie and in him our glorification EXcellent was the coÌ„ming of God when in his glorie like shining fire he came downe vpon mount Sinai where Moyses brought the people out of the tentes to meete the Lorde so marueilously descending downe vpon the hill which burnt with fire eueÌ„ vnto the middes of heauen Exod. 19. and the Lorde spake vnto them with his mightie thundring voyce out of fire Deut. 4. that it was exceeding fearefull and also so wonderfull glorious that wheÌ„ Moyses had talked with God the people were not able to beholde the glistering beautie and brightnesse of Moyses face Exod. 34. But nowe howe shall his glorie bee exalted in the highest what time he shall make him vp to shake the earth in the ende of the worlde when the appearance of his comming shall exceede in all greatnesse of power and might according to Micheas Micheas â— The Lorde shall come out of his holy place Micheas 1. and come downe and â—â—eade vpon the high things of the earth that the mountaines shall consume vnder him and the valleyes cleaue asunder And then the Sunâ—â—e and Moone shall be ashamed at his glorious face of incomparable clearenesse brightnes from which all the beautie glorie and pompe of this world shall flée away into rebuke dishonour not able to endure the perfection of his beautie and incomprehensible pureness e before whome it consumeth to nought perish and vanish away for euer and thâ—â— O how Christ shall glister in the magnificence of his omnipotent kingly maiestie in the preheminence noe of dignitie aboue dignities that all the glorie of kings kingdomes shall giue place and vanish at his mightie appearance not worthy to endure the glorie of his coÌ„ming before which they waste and fall into emptines and he shall shew him selfe from the top of the high heauens with such triumphant power of vnspeakeable glorie dominion and might that from his presence shall â—â—â—â—away â—eâ—rth heauens and their place no more souÌ„d for he shall shake the earth againe remooue â—â—â—ne away those things which haue ended their course wheÌ„ the powres of heauen the vniuers al frame of this world shal
and brightnes of GOD. Therfore ascribe power vnto our Lord and reioyce in him who is so wunderfull in his holy places where he will deck his people with his owne beauty crown them with the glory of an euerlasting kingly préesthood extolling and prays ing God eternally in the highest according to his woorthynes and thus they taste perpetually of the infallable swéetnes of all flowing goodnes incessantly procéeding from God his owne selfe there making mery in all heauenlynes of mirth and reioysing continually before God by imbracing the excellēt shyne and blessed beames of the moste splendent and glorious brightnes of the omnipotent Father O therfore come hether all good people that you may taste the swéetnes of the Lord for the which lift vp your harts to heauen and so run your race as that you may be receiued in to that heauenly habitation with God and his Saincts And besides touching the heauenly misterie of this our eternall Ierusalem and blessed mansion discending downe from God the vision of the glorie of the Lord appearing to Ezechiell Ezeche 1. and 10. doth in ghostly cōprehension as in a cleare glasse represent the figuratiue misterie therof vnder the semblance of the goodly Cherubins for our holy euerla sting Citie shall euermore appeare full of the glistering of Gods maiestie lightning round about wherby the twelue trybes or vniuersall number of the elect possessing Ierusalem according to a quadrate or equilaterall triplicitie of euery side of the Cittie conteyning thrée gates hauing the names of the trybes in order of heauenly deuision which sides represent the fower goodly beastes vnder the quadrat fourme of this Cittie containing The mysterye of the fower beastes 4. and wheeles which Ezechiell saw as vnder fower faces of beautifull beastes or wheeles the whole congregation of the elect as vnder the face of thrée gates on euerie side makeing the radicall number of twelue trybes or twelue Apostels multiplyed in the vertue of it selfe to a perfect number radicall the harmony of the elect and thus these goodly faces of the fower beastes being each side of the Cittie with his blessed saincts shall shine as burning Cressets geuing a cōtinuall glister as it were a lightning for out of their bodies shall proceed the flaming zeale of praysing and magnifying the God of glorie for euer and thus on the foure sides rounde about the similitude of new Ierusalem shall be as a glassie sea mingled with fire shining with the superexcellent glistering of heauenly beautie like the shining of precious stones carued out without hande by the omnipotencie of God that the twelue tribes or whole congregation of the elect being euermore in the citie that howsoeuer the blessed Lambe and glorious hoste of Saintes mooue vpwarde or downeward to the magnifying of the Maiestie of God or falling vpon their faces at the high glistring of the most incomprehensible brightnesse of God the tabernacle or heauenly Ierusalem doth the same also as an heauenly clothing immoueable from them but still conformed in all godly perfection to euery harmonie of consent of the glorious Saintes that if the holy Saintes doe mooue or goe by the guiding of the spirite or Lambe the blessed Citie or tabernacle goeth also for the spirite of life is in the Citie So that the elect are so clothed with their heauenly habitation that neither can they any way be separated from it nor that from them as a kingdome of glorie in s eparable and immoueable from a glorious bodie And this eternall Citie is framed with foure equilaterall sides like the fourme of the Quier and altar of the Temple of old Ierusalem and that in most true perfection of iust harmonie and absolute proportion hauing to looke vpon euery side mos t excellently cohering and according as if one were in another that when one side of the glorified saintes went forward they went all foure and turned them not about according to the dignitie of true perfection for such is the concording of euery part with the whole and of the whole citie with euery parte that if any part mooued all mooued and that with such a motion as the spirite of life did giue which was in the whole Citie or tabernacle and in euery parte of the tabernacle a like and the selfe s ame So that this motion was euer as the swéete voyce of Gods owne mouth did breath being the perfect motion of Gods holy will accordingly as the children of Israel did neuer mooue foorth in passing the wildernesse but by the mouth of God as the cloudie pillar did mooue or stande still before the tabernacle So in most heauenly maner shall it be in our glorified tabernacle or citie that God shall be our Captaine and King leading vs to fountaines of water of life Ezech. 1. And the streetes and winges of this our Citie are so framed without hande by mightie power that one neuer touch another and yet when they moue they turne them not about but eche goe straight forwarde shewing that it conteineth one onely way and motion of most perfect trueth and perfection with all harmonicall concordance of heauenly agré ement And these goodly beastes doe represent the Godly liuers which are accepted before the goodnesse of God and now the maner of their dwelling within their newe Ierusalē is prefigured by the face of a man and Lion Ezech. 1. appearing on the right side of the squared Citie and the face of an oxe and an Eagle on the left side signifying a consimilar expectation that those godly people which like a lyon haue bene vigilant stout strong and bolde in faith to fight and warre in defence of the Lambe and the face of a man sheweth that those which truely and faithfully by confession teaching and preaching haue set foorth the glorie of the Lambe shall possesse the right side of Ierusalem And tho se which like an oxe to sacrifice haue yeelded them selues to martirdome to death or torments for the Lambes sake and those which like an Eagle haue turned their hearts to God as the Eagle doeth alwayes turne her selfe to the Sonne to beholde it shall posses se the left side of newe heauenly Ierusalem being nowe glorified whose feete shineth like glistering scoured metall full of beautie euermore continuing in one selfe same ioy and glorie And nowe the winges and borders are spredde out most beautifully according to Esay the cordes are so laide abroade as that they can not be better Esay 33. and the ma st set vp of such a fashion that no banner or sayle hangeth thereon Esay 40. As also Esay saith The Lorde sitteth vpon the Circle of the worlde and spreadeth out the heauens as a couering and stretcheth them out as a tent to dwell in For nowe euery parte in the whole and the whole with euery parte doeth euermore agree in the selfe same so knit in vnitie and euerlasting peace in one consent of melodie that for euer one parte and
VIVAT SERENISsima Regina TO THE MOST MIGHTIE IMPERIAL AND Vertuous Princesse The Lordes Anointed Queene Elizabeth by the grace of God of Englande Fraunce and Irelande Queene Defendresse of the faith c. â‚ SEing that your Royall seate and Scepter most mightie and Imperiall Princesse is clothed with Salomons heauenly giftes and doeth holde vp the golden rodde of wisedome which leadeth to the euerlas ting kingdome I hope therefore by the goodnesse of God that it shall please your Highnesse to admit this Garlande of mans glorification to come into your sweete gracious handes prefixed with the bright beames of your Maiesties princely glorious Name vnder the high precious Cedar and sweete Libanus of your heauenly goodne sse of mercie and pardon That though I be troubled in heart with 〈◊〉 â—eare of your supers plendent personage being a mightie princes of power to dedicate this Pamphlet to your most excellent Maiestie yet the singular clearenesse of your spirituall treasures of goodnesse doth preuaile ouer my dutifull minde and faithfull allegeance in such sort as if the precious pearle of your vertues did shine into my heart not forbidding this litle Pamphlet to come vnto your Highnes trusting that the purenes of the matter will increase your MAIESTIES deare soule to an exceeding consolation touching your bodie to bee glorified In consideration whereof when I did beholde the goodly order of the bright glistering starres which the omnipotent Creator hath placed in the firmament of the heauens there seeing the resplendent starre Corona lucida I was stirred vp with the ioyfull remembrance of your Maiesties incomparable personage being the Lordes Anointed knowing that your Highnesse being vertuous meeke and mercifull is equall with the good Kinges of Iuda with Asa Ezechias Iehos aphat and Iosias in imbracing all godly vertues to the aduauncing of the honour glorie of God that as your Maiestie in all points doe holde your scepter linked to the Scepter of Iuda being an vnfeigned friend to the holy one of Israel so your highnes subiectes in great consolation of heart do pray sincerely in all humblenesse of duety vnto God for the preseruation of your Maiestie loÌ„g to reigne ouer vs And that at the appearance of Christ you may be a glorious Saint in the kingdome of God And now considering howe much Israel reioyced of Salomon how greatly it lamented after his departure Am perswaded how much all true Protestants do pray that the Lord may be your shield as he was to Abraham and that your blessed personage may by the great mercie and s ingular goodnesse of God gouerne this Realme as happily and as many yeeres and more as good king Asa king of Iuda did to the glorie of God and saluation of soules Wherefore most Mightie and Renowned Soveraigne when I an inferiour vnworthie to touch the grouÌ„d that your Maiestie doe walke on had finished this Beautifull garland of mans glorification expressing the mysterie of new Ierusalem with her golden crownes and diademes I thought it so much to represent the heauenly ioyes and happinesse of our euerlasting glorie as that it was a matter meete to be dedicated to your most excellent Maiestie shewing howe your Highnesse being an Anointed and blessed Princesse of power vnder God vpon the earth shal meete at the great day of resurrection the King of al kings comming in his triumphant progresse from heauen with the glorious companie of his holy Angels when your pure personage shall beholde that incomprehensible Scepter of the euerlasting kingdome of Dauid That as your Maiestie in your progresse vpon the earth hath highly preferred your faithfull subiectes in Christ to honour and dignitie so nowe that glorious King of eternitie and euerlasting glorie will fashion your bodie to be like his owne glorious body for that your blessed power hath set foorth the true Religion worshippe and honour of God to a liuely hope among your Highnesse subiectes to obteine the eternall garlande of glorie Thus humbly committing this litle Pamphlet of mans glorification vnto your Princely magnificence and godly wisedome doe beseech your Highnesse in your tender minde of mercie to receiue it vnder your sweete gracious mans ion of goodnesse among your spirituall treasures of heauenly solace and ioye thereby daily remembring how your God and Sauiour Iesus Christ shall clothe your Maiestie with an euerlasting garment of glorie shining vpon you with the light of his owne couÌ„tenance there sitting with Christ in his owne seate of heauenlinesse tasting the vnspeakeable ioyes of eternall blessednesse where you shall glister as the shining of heauen worlde without end beholding the beauty of God for euer in new IerusaleÌ„ Thus hoping that your Maiesties mercie will be as a vayle to my boldenesse doe trust that as your Highnesse hath truely touched the hemme of Christes garment whereby you haue partaken the heauenly sparkes of the vertues of Christ that it would please your goodnesse to admit one sparke towards the acceptation of this glorious garlande And so I pray God with all instance that it may please him of his aboundant mercie to preserue you our Sweete beloued Queene and true branch of Christ long to reigne ouer vs in tranquillitie and peace to the setting foorth of Gods honour and spreading abroade of his glorie that your MAIESTIE may ioyfully appeare before Christ and be crowned with the Crownes and Diademes of euerlasting glorification which O Lord so let it be Your Maiesties most humble Subiect faithfull Orator FRANCIS KETT THE GLORIOVS and beautifull garland of mans glorification CAP. 1. How Christ was ordained before the world was made to our glorie and promised of God in his holy Scriptures to come in the humanitie and humilitie of flesh to tast of death for all men whereby is iustified the righteousnes of God to the confirmation of our beliefe touching our election and glorification SEing that our glorification and heauenly mansion wherwith we desire to be clothed and which we hope after this life to inioy doth come by Iesus Christ sealed with the holy spirit of Gods true promise wée ought then to stablish our hartes in the consolation of good hope and faith to obtaine the glory that thus cometh by Christ by considering the faithfulnes of God who performeth all that he hath promised and is able to doe excéeding aboundantly aboue all that we can aske or think who so loued the world that he spared not his owne sonne but gaue him a reconciliation for our sinnes The mysterie of whom was hid since the world began and since the beginning of generations but now is opened and declared openly to haue brought to vs life and immortalitie through his Gospell to the iustifying of the righteousnes of Gods true promise to be the glorious riches of our eternall glorie by the shedding of his bloud vpon the Crosse That whereas through the sinnes and disobedience of one man sinne reigned vnto death So by the obedience of one maÌ„ Christ might grace reigne through
droue off from day to day till the floud came vnawares vpon them and ouer whelmed gulled into their throts Gen. 7. and how lamentable the Sodomites were that abode in sinne and wallowed in the lustes of the flesh and pleasure of the world and in the lusts of eating and drinking and vicious life euen till the fire and brimstone came downe from heauen and consumed and burnt them vp mo st â—ufully and heauily but now behold Gen. 19. there is comming a thousand fold more of fire and brimstone of flames of wee of flouds of sorrow and burning plagues of paine at this daye when all the frame of this world shall flye on a fire and the Lord shall say depart ye cursed into euerlasting woe the before turne vnto me saith the Lord and I will turne vnto you and hast to come away yee people from slumbring in sinne Zach. 1. and tarry no longer in your carnall lustes and worldly desires walking with old Adam in filthy and vaine conuersation but awake and rise vp to Christ in holines of life knowing that you are redeemed with his precious bloud as of a lambe vndefiled and without spot that you may be found vnto laud honour and glorie at the appearing of Iesus Christ Pet. 1.1 when ye shal giue accoumptes to him who shall come with all power Pet. 1.4 to iudge the aâ—icke and dead for which cause ye ought to awake out of sinne and sit downe vpon the lap of repentance there making you readie dayly and hourely with the garments of righteousnes the breast plate of faith and loue and putting on the golden helmet of hope the precious badge of your saluation thereby making your calling and election sure that when his glorie appeareth you may be merry and glad and not ashamed Wherfore consider this dreadfull day in which behold how wofull how trembling and fearefull it shall be to see all the borders of the heauens and earth in a raging blaâ—â—ng and consuming fire that wee shall crye vnto the hilles and rockes to fall on vs and how pitifull shall this day be in which all the kindreds of the earth shall mourn with greeuous lamentings and weepings therefore let this consideration enter into the eares of thy heart as the sounde of a terrible trumpet â—â—uddering and shaking thy fleshly man with the remembrance of the groning cryes of the wâ—es in hell and aâ—â—mating thy inward man with the ioyfull voices of blessednes in heauen considering that such is the glorie that the gospell propound of the one side and such is the dreadfull damnation which it threateneth of the other siâ—e as that the one is an eternall kingdome of glorie prepared for the good and godly people the ioy whereof surpasseth the other is a place of horror and a furnace of vnquencheable paines ordained for the wicked into the which they shall be damned and cast from the face of their Gâ—â—â— there remaining swallowed vp into the dreadfull and arke gulphes of hell for euer and euer and there shall continue tormented with fire and brimstone for euer where euerie place and corner is filled with curses and woes and with most heauy lamentations and bewaylinges where alas the heapes of woes the stormes of punishments the raging of spirites the horror of Sathan and the crying of soules may pearce your hartes with the woundes of sorrow to think of the griefes that shal be accompanied with the lameÌ„table damnation of departing from god from his kingdom of heauen whereby it shall make that day of sentence and iudgement of death giueÌ„ by Christ to be most trembling dreadfull and fearefull Notwithstanding there is no cause why any man shuld feare himselfe so that he perseuere in the christian faith good life as a sure refuge and anker He that beleeueth neede not feare although great shal be the feare of the dreadfull day of dome when Christ shall shew himselfe sodenly vnlooked for from an high after the maner of a flash of lightening dreadful to the wicked who shall be cast into euerlasting fire uost amiable louely to the godly persons which shal be called to the feloship of the heauenly kingdome for the Lord will let none of his chosen be away but be shrowded vnder the protection of his Angels for it is written Psal 34. the angel of the Lord tarrieth about them that feare him deliuereth them yea hee will comfort them euen when that sodaine and sore perplexity of mind and earnest des peration shall go as a quauie and wind ouer all nations that the people of the earth shall consume and pine away as peple of an other world for feare of beholding the terrible stroke of God the powers of heuen to moue contrarie to their creation the earth shake and reele the sea boyle and swel with most dreadful roring noise to the dismaing of al mens hartes to behold the whole vniuersall world and al the nature of things ready to be shaken in sunder like an earthen pot when the bright shining s un being the fountaine of the light of the earth heauens shal with sodain darknes couer his face imbraiding the vngodly with their blindnes because they would not see follow imbrace the euerlasting s on lanterne of the world Iesus Christ the moone shal giue no light and the stars fall which hath bene so many hundred yeares fastened to the firmament Then the glorie of the Lord shal come his face burne that no man can abide it Esay 3. and shall set vp the power of his voyce an angrie countenaunce with a consuming fire then the kinges shall vani sh as the scums of the water and shall say to the mountaines couer vs Ose 9. and to the hilles fal on vs fearing the fire of Gods indignation now kindled ouer the whole world doubting to be girded in the flame thereof whereat all the nations of the world shal strike their breastes beholding the signe of the sonne of man which being sâ—ne a vniuersall trepidation shall come vnto all mens hartes when the Iewes shall see whom they haue offended and the Gentiles s hal see the maiestie of the crosse which they laughed to scorne for they shall see the sonne of man whom they dispised comming on high in the cloudes of the ayre with a great armie of Aungels Esay 26. who commeth out of his place to visite the wickednes of them that dwell vpon the earth and who shall abide it for then shall the axe be put to the roote of the trees so that euery tree that hath not brought foorth good fruit shall be hewen downe and cast into the fire when fire and brimstone storme tempest shall be their portion to drinke which obstinate sinners haue heaped to them selues despising the goodnes patience and long suffering of God which meanes he vsed in their life time to call them continually to repentance but then shall
rent in pieces â—â—me in a consuming 〈◊〉 Now the truth hereof iâ— so 〈◊〉 â—laine that there need no great circumstance to prooue with many witnesses out of the holy scriptures any so ignorant as to doubt hereof although saith Micheas Micheas 1. the rebellious people hope that it shall not be so ill Peter 2.3 saith Peter in the latter dayes shall come mockers that will say â—â—â—h where is the promise of his comming But now that you may behold as in a looking glasse the glorious coÌ„ming of Christ as from a farre yet use wtin the compasse of our hearts Iohn 11. as Christ saide to Martha If thou beléeuest thou shalt sée the glorie of God I wil place therefore your soule in the spirit of heauenly meditation fixing your féete in the path of righteousnes and standing immoueable at the â—indow of Gods promises beholding in the glaâ—â—eâ— of tâ—neth with the stedfast eies of faith Iesus the King of glorie comming in a wonderfull glorious and magnificall progresse from heauen to visite the kingdomes and Lordshippes of the earth and the inhabiters thereof with power of mercie and iudgement touching the which the messengers of this glad tidings haue flowâ—â— thorowe the middest of heauen and gone through all the worlde with the ioyfull sounde of trumpet signifying the ioy of redemption to be come and the day of glorie to beâ—â—ie at hand the kingdome of euerlasting rest to draw néere therefore lift vp your heades Matth. 16. and be ready to the reward of your kingdome make haste to meete the king of glorie comming in the glorie of his Father with al his holy angels set 〈◊〉 his glorious throne of all maiestie there shining in his euerlasting clearnes glittering in his eternall brightnesse appearing in his preciousnes excéeding in his righteousnes exalted in his highnes magnified in his worthines sanctified in his holines triumphing in his gloriousnes when the puisance strength power of his omnipotent maiestie shall lighten into all the secrete places of world and his voice imperial shall pearce thorow the vnspeakable borders of all places to raise froÌ„ death to life all humane creatures that euer had being wheresoeuer and to gather them together before his eternall excellencie where all thinges in heauen and earth shall stand before his presence and all knees shall bowe and all tongues 〈◊〉 knowledge to the glorie of God Rom. 14. and then shall take perfourmed that Christ sayd to the high priests that were offended at him when hee was come in his â—owle humanitie saying Matth. 26. You shall see the Sonne of man sitting on the right handâ— of power and comming in the cloudes of the skie whereof the two Angels testified to the Disciples at the ascension of our Sauiour Christ Actes 1. saying Yeâ— men of Galilee why stande yee gasing vp into heauen This saâ—â—e Iesus which is taken vp from you into heauen is returned to the Father whence he came as he hath tolde you before and shall sâ—â—â—â—e againe euen as you haue s eene him god into heauen and that according to Matthewe accompanied with all the godly Angels Matth. 25. Iude. and saith â—â—och with thousandes of blessed Saintes with him and according 〈◊〉 Iohn In a white cloude sitting in his feare of dominion and dignitie Reuel 14. and in his glorious throne of wonderfull gâ—â—â—nes se which is according to Daniel as the 〈◊〉 flame Daniel 7. and his wheeles as the burning fire there went out froÌ„ him a fierie streame as glorious sparkes of eternall heauenlinesse like glisterings of perpetuall beames of 〈◊〉 proceeding froÌ„ the glory of his Godhead and 〈◊〉 out 〈◊〉 him and yet euer in him shewing the 〈◊〉 treasure of his grace and goodnesse â—he â—â—â—d â—â—prehensible 〈◊〉 out of his right cleare Maiestie the infinite and vnsearcheable vertues and giftes of glorie which issues eternally from his deuine Godhead and â—â—nipotent power And thus hee shall appeare most maruellous and all eyes sée him and all nations gathered before him Daniel 7. as saith Daniel A thousand times a thousand serued him a thous and times ten thousande stoode before him And theerfore Blessed be the kingdome that commeth in the Name of him that iâ— Lorde of our Father Dauid Marke 11. Hos anna Praising him in his holines praising him in the â—â—rmament of his power praising him in his 〈◊〉 Actes praising him according to his excellent greatnesse For nowe is the full time wheÌ„ the mysterie of the will of the Father shall bee opened in his Sonne Iesus Christ comming in the glorie of the father when shall be opened the endlesse clearenesse of diuinitie the incomprehensible â—â—â—â—our of Gods Maiestie the glorious riches of euerlasting glorie the incomparable profoundnesse of Gods wis edome the flowing fountaines of Gods goodnesse the shining light of all trueth the glorious kingdome wherto wée are called and the tresures of rewardes to men with glorie and dishonour and then the brightnes and sight of all things shal be apparent and all things past shall be as one thing present according to Mathew there is nothing so close that shall not be opened nothing so hyd that shall not be knowen Math. 1â— such s halbe the omnipotent potentiall and in comprhenssble clearnes of God that before him all that were in power in spirit in act in thought in intent in heauen in earth or in hell from the beginning shall there shew it selfe present apparent cleare and manifest by the endlesse brightnes of God that all the nature of sathan and the power of hell shal be made manifest for euer and the nature of man as it was and now is and shal be in glorie or dishonour shall be expressed for euer and all the great woorkes of GOD and beautie of Angells Cherubins and Seraphins shall there be knowen for euer and all the goodly mansions of God shall then be reuealed mo ste euident and the eternall shyne of Gods maiestie shall then bee vniuersall transparent for sayeth Paul Ephe. 1. The whole misterie of the will of the Father shall then be declared according to the purpose of his owne will therefore moste blessed shall you be that shal be found watching and waiting for his comming looking vp to heauen with pure eyes of faith and lyfting vp cleane hands of righteousnes well washed at the fountaine of penance that you may be found at his appearaÌ„ce to laude glory and honour pertaking with the treasures of the heauenly misterie of the will of the father ordained in Christe Iesus who béeing the Author of our glorie whereunto hee hath called vs by his Gospell by shedding of his owne moste precious blood to bring vs to GOD and to make vs heires of his kingdoÌ„e Did not omit the least godly meanes of all to drawe vs and quicken vs by his spirit diligently and with all our indeuours to seek after his kingdome And
proceedeth a sharpe two edged sword shewing that all power Maiestie imperiall and iudgement was giuen him of his father according to that of the Reuel out of his mouth went a sharpe sword that with it he should smite the heathen which was his word which according to Paul is sharper then a two edged sworde being quicke and mightie in operation Heb. 4. entreth thorowe to the deuiding of the soule and spirit and of the ioynts and the marow and iudgeth the thoughtes and intentes of the heart and the Raine bowe about his head shewing the vndoubted signe of his true couenaÌ„t and promise in all things to be perfourmed according as hee had promised touching saluation euen as the Rainbow was a true signe and witnes of Gods iust worde neuer to destroy the world by water againe And his face did shine as the sunne in his strength and hath the keyes of hell and death shewing the shining light of the incomprehensible brightnes of his glorious maiestie and his triumphant power ouer all his enemies and ouer al powers of hel and death hauing the keyes of the kingdome euen the keyes of Dauid which openeth no man shutteth which shutteth and no man openeth and thus to the Prophetes and Apostles Chri st did shewe a consembable vision of his glorious maiestie and glorious mirrour of comming againe at the latter day therein expressing the selfe same Symbolicall glorie to be to vs if we be founde worthy at his appearance to be heyres of his Kingdome thorough righteous life according as the Angell shewed the vision of Christ vpon mount Sion howe there stoode before him a great people that coulde not be nombred Esdras 4.2 praysing the Lorde with songes and thankesgiuing and he in the middest of them being of an high stâ—â—â—eâ— most goodly most glorious and most excellent aboue them all appearing alwayes higher and higher more glorious and glorious in the incomprehensible shining and vnmeasurarable riches of all brightnesse clearenesse beautie gifâ—es treasures and noblenesse and in the infinite and endelesse power might and omnipotencie of his diuine Maiestie and Godheade setting crownes vpon their heades there crowning them with the golden Diademes of eternall glorie and palmes of euerlasting ioye for that they had truely walked in his wayes and knowledged 〈◊〉 â—efectâ— faith his holy Name euen to the death Therefore seeing by Christ we haue there arrest of our saluation and the promise to be made partakers of his godly nature and the power by his Gospel to be made the sonnes of God let vs vse all diligence towarde good life to make our calling to mount Sion to be to our ioy that when we there appeare before our eternall king of glorie we maye be fouÌ„d to be of that holy multitude that Christ with his heauenly and vnspeakeable sweete hand may set the vnspeakeable crowne of glorie vpon our heades for which cause let vs now stirre vp our hearts with the quicke eye of faith and behold him as if he were present whom shortly we shall sée with our outward and inward eyes face to face in his Godhead and glorious humanitie as before he was séene in his lowlinesse of his humane nature And then we shal behold him in his excellencie and in all marueilousnesse being exalted and aduanced in the high glory of his Father and beautified with all the euerlasting ornaments of wisedome beautie goodnes and glorie And then O how ioyfully shall we sée him how intyrely shall we loue him howe with burning flames of excéeding desire shall we couet him and what wonderfull zeale affection shall we haue to imbrace him so most amiable a god and sauiour when we shall thus looke vpon him how in steade of his crowne of thornes he is extolled to the endles mirror of Maiestie triumphing in all the great shining dignitie of God and in the Royall power ouer all powers King of kings to whome all kings and powers shall yeeld vp their glorie power ashamed of so mightie maiestie and in s teade of a Reede he hath nowe the bright euerlasting Scepter of the kingdome and the omnipotent and eternall sentence of iudgement and in steade of rebukes and reproches he is magnifies with all goodly and glorious names of God with all the wordes voyces and songs of praise laud honour and glorie for euer and in stead of his crosse nayles he is exalted in the wonderful bright and glorious shining throne and seate of power and domination and in steade of his simple garments and rent clothes and purple gowne with which they clothed and mocked him hee is nowe arayed with the euerlasting heauenly Robes of glorie and honour of Iustice and Kingly dignitie for euer And where his enemies did boast ouer him and mocked him nowe he hath reigned till his enemies be made his footestoole and hath triumphed ouer death the last enemie Oseas 13. that the saying of the Prophet may be fulfilled O death I will be thy death O hel I wil be thy sting And thus our Sauiour Christ hath perfourmed the euerlasting tryumphe ouer all his enemies they nowe bowing their knees attributing all honour glorie vnto him and with moste dreadfull feare falling flat an their faces before his shining face and high power And because he yeelded him selfe to death he hath nowe the victorie ouer death and hell for euermore And in this sorte he commeth in the most magnifical glorie of his Father prepared to the marriage of newe Ierusalem which commeth downe also from heauen from God garnis hed with the reines of the righteousnesse of Saintes prepared as a bride mos t beautifull and glorious fitte and conuenient for a precious and glorious husbande and worthie to receiue and welcome all the excellent guestes that are called to this marriage where the ioye of the godlye shall be made perfect and complete receiuing the marriage gifte the palmes of immortalitie and honour and the garland of euerlasting glorification Wherefore to consider of this our heauenly hope and ioyfull expectation of blessednesse let vs be faithfull vnto death and ouercome and Chri st hath promised to giue vs this crowne of life at his comming Thess 1.4 which shall be with Imperiall might and greatnesse according to Paul with a shout and the voyce of the Archangel and troumpe of God that the heauens and earth and all powers shall quake withall and according to Iohn Hee shall come downe from the high heauens clothed with a cleare white splendent cloude and the Raine bowe vpon his head the signe of Iustice promise mercie and iudgement and his face as it were the sunne and his feete as it were pillars of fire glistering in the most endlesse purenesse of the glorie of his father like shining fire Thes s 1.4 most incomparable And then lift vp your heads to sée his superexcellent gloriousnesse when you shall immediately be changed to immortalitie and méete him in the ayre Actes 1. when he
shal according to the first of the Actes come againe downe vpon mount Oliuet Zacharie 14. and according to Zacharie Hee shall stande vpon mount Oliuet the mount of the eternall light that lieth vpon the East side of Ierusalem Place of Iudgement And the mount Oliuete shall cleaue in two eastward and wes tward so that there shall be a great valley and the half mount shall remoue toward the north and the other toward the south and thither wee shall flye into the valley of the Lords hilles where the Lord shal be and all his Saincts with him and this is the valley of Iosaphat which Ioel speaketh of saying Let the people ryse and get them to the valley of Iosaphat Ioel. 3. for there will I set sayth the Lord and iudge all heathen round about and there shall bee many people in that day of the Lord in the same valley appointed when the Lord shall roare out of Sion and cry out of Ierusalem that the heauens and earth shall quake withall and the sun and moone shal be darkened and the starres withdrawe their light and then shall we knowe that the Lord our God dwelleth vppon the holy mount Sion and that Ierusalem is holy inhabited for euer more And thus sayth Esay the sunne and moone shall bee ashamed Esay 24. when the Lord of hoastes shall come with his hie heauenly hoast from abooue to rule the people at Ierusalem vppon mount Syon And now beholde how Iesus our eternall king iudge béeing thus come downe from the toppe of all heauens with an heauenly company of beautifull bright Angells and goodly creatures triumphing with the glorie of all celestiall pompe Reue. 20. Is sitting according to Iohn in the great white seat from whose face flyeth away bothe the earth and heauen their place no more found And there bothe great and small stand before GOD ready to be rewarded with his glorious and euerlasting kingdome saying blessing honour glorie and power bee vnto him that sitteth on the seate and to the Lamb for euermore And thus our omnipotent and glorious King our mercifull Sauiour and Iudge hath stretched foorth his glorious and omnipotent throne and seate of maiestie vpon the valley of Iosaphat the blessed valley of GOD where all thinges in heauen and in earth are gathered before him to iudgement where hée openly sheweth foorth his woorthines and pretiousnes glittering lyke to a Iasper or Sardine stone which stones are moste cleare and of a moste florishing purenes without corruption being of propertie and nature of so excellent a vertue Reue. 4. as to kindle the harts and myndes of the beholders to ioy and also to animat and stirre vp their spirits to delight mirth and gladnes and so in superabundant measure of vnspeakablenes doothe Christe appeare vnto vs moste graciously sitting vppon his tribunall seate houlding his court regall with all fleshe there glistering so with incōparable endlesse brightnes and purenes of glorie as to kendle all harts excedingly and abooue all that may be thought to the praysing lauding and magnifying his moste excellent and renowned maiestie And there was about his seat thousand thousands saying with a lowde voice worthie is the Lamb that was killed to receiue power and riches and wisdome and strength and honour and glory and blessing And this seat was bordred about with a goodly and heauinly Raine-bow lyke a Smaradge as with a moste precious ring representing the riches of Gods promises to be performed and the blessednes of his promises touching election and his iudgements touching distruction to be like as the raine-bow is roūd and with out end so them to be without end for euer and as the Smaradge is durable Esdras 4.5 so the promises and iudgement of God shall indure for euer according to Esdras God lykneth his iudgement to a ring And now ahout the seat are twentie and fower seates and vpon the seate twenty and fower Elders sitting clothed in amiable white Garments being the raines of righteousnes and robes of iuss tice hauing on their heades crouwnes of golde beeing made kings royall préestes vnto God and Iudges of the trybes béeing the Patriarches and twelue Apostles according to Daniell I loked till the seates were prepared till the olde aged set them down according to Mathew Mathew 1◠Christ sayd vnto his Apostles yée shall sit vppon twelue seates and iudge the twelue trybes of Israell whereby wée see the great glorie power and dignitie with whiche the Lord dooth adorne his messengers and Apostles withall that they shall accompanie our eternall God and king Iesus Christe vpon his maiesticall throne of Iudgement to manifest the excellencie of Gods treuth in open iudgement iudgeing the enemies of Christe Whereby wee may well perceiue the woorthines of our glorie to be great if wee so liue that we may be found acceptable in the sight of God thereby to be made the sonnes of God glorified with glorious bodies like the Apostles euermore accompaning with Christe him selfe in his new Cittie of Ierusalem his moste blessed kingdome And now out of the seat proceeded lightnings and thundrings and voyces the first béeing the glistering and lightning streames of Gods mercy towards the godly the second beeing the dreadfull thundering fearefull s ound of Gods iudgement toward the wicked and the third beeing the heauenly voyces of the Angells and Saincts praysing lawding magnifying God in his omnipotent goodnes and glorie as at the byrthe of Christe the Angells and multitude of heauenly souldiers stood before Christe in vision to the Shéep-heards according to Luke lawding God and saying Luke 2. Glory be to God on high and peace on the earth and with men reioycing And the glorious Throne of GOD is full of all power glorie and honour according to the saying of Ieremie Whose Throne is moste glorious excellent and of moste antiquitie which dwellest in the place of our moste holy and blessed rest And according to the saying of the Prophet Danyell His Throne was lyke vnto the fierie flame and his wheales as the burning fire and there drewe forth a fierie streame and went out from him béeing the mighty and eternall blases of Gods goodnes Daniell 7. mercy and iudgmēt to the great ioy and gladnes of the righteous to beholde and to the wunderfull terrour feare and dread of the wicked to see abyde and indure and thus replenished with all excellēncie and gloriousnes is this seat of iudgement That there are seuen shyning Lamps of fire burning before the seat béeing the seuen spirits of God shewing a goodly faire and cleare light and a pure cleare expressing of the clearnes of almightie GOD béeing the heauenly witnes of the euerlasting treuth of God and béeing for euer present before his Throne there giuing heauenly honour and prayse to our omnipotent God sitting in his glorious throne of maiestie and before the seat is a sea of glasse like throwgh shyning christall being the
appointed place for all the new chaunged creatures frō corruption to immortalitie to stand vpon before the glory of God it is so translucident as that it semeth that the eternall power of Gods eternall remēbrance omnipotent might hath fixed it with the vertue of such a meruelous cōprehension the lyke as a a glass e expresseth the vision of a mans face shape so this expresseth the apperance of euery mans déeds woords thoughts and imaginations in shewing the verry face of euerie mans conscience euen in the very circute he stands vpon so that the powre of God shall make all things that were since the beginning to be as present in most manife st maner shewing the treuth of all things before his Angels saincts therfore ought we to be careful to kéep a good cōscience Reue. 4. seing nothing is so hid that shall not be reuealed and in the midst of the seat round about the seat are fower beastes being the fower goodly cherubins of God ful of eyes before behind represēting the state of our new Ierusalē of all the elect of God the first beast being like a Lion signifiing glory to those which béen valiant to fight with stout faith corage in the defence of the Lambe and his Gospel The seconde was like a calfe which prefigured a crowne of glorie to them which liued a sincere life and offred them selues to the sacrifice of martirdome death for the Lambes sake The third had the face of a man shewing the token of glorie to all them which openly with voyce and tongue by preaching teaching and writing had perfourmed the will of God to his praise and glorie The fourth beast was like an Eagle which euer setteth her face to the Sunne and hath pure eyes to beholde the brightnes thereof and this represented an assured signe of bles sed life to all them that haue liued in true penance of heart lifting vp the pure eyes of faith to God and placing their conscience in true righteousnesse and purenes of heart euermore towarde Iesus Chri st and thus the good people are at that dreadful appearance to iudgement comforted in hope and gladnesse by beholding these Cherubims representing the signes of happinesse Reuel 4. And these beautifull beastes had no rest day night saying Holy Holy Holy is the Lorde God Almightie And when those beastes or goodly Cherubims gaue honour glorie and thankes to him that sate on the seate which liueth for euer and euer the twentie and foure Elders that sit in iudgement with Christ fel down before him that sate in the throne worshipping him that liueth for euermore and cast their crownes before the throne yeelding to him all honour to whome it is due knowing that they haue nothing but that they haue receiued Saying Thou art worthy Lord to receiue glorie and honour and power for thou hast created all thinges and for thy willes sake they are and were created And about the throne was the voyce of many angels praising magnifying the Lord with most heauenly melodie in all excellencie and sweetenesse Reu. 4. And the twentie and foure Elders fell vpon their faces and worshipped him that liueth for euermore shewing thereby that when the Lorde s hineth foorth the excéeding highnes and greatnesse of his glorious face and maiestie that all his goodly creatures do cast downe them selues as not able to abide the brightnes thereof And thus consisteth the mysterie of the royal maiestie of Iesus Christ comming to iudgement at the latter day and of his most glorious sitting in his puisance power and glorie in his seate regall hauing all thinges according to the wil of the Father gathered before him The similitude of whose glorie appeared to Ezechiel Ezech. 1. 10. appearing in a great cloude full of fire which with his glistering lightened rounde about and in the middes of the fire all cleare And nowe after that the Lord hath opened the whole mysterie of the will of the heauenly father set the elect vpon his right hande the wicked and cursed on his left hauing sealed vp the whole nomber of his chosen then according to Iohn Reuel 7. the foure Angels which he saw stande on the foure corners of the earth holding the foure windes shall blowe and consume this vniuersall worlde with consuming fire which then was disfigured at the comming of Christ that there shall be no more of the first heauen Reuel 21. earth and sea and then at that blast shall the cursed fall with the Deuill and his Angels into hell the Lord saying depart ye cursed and on the other side shall be a newe heauen and a newe earth euen newe Ierusalem the glorious kingdome of God prepared for the elect before the beginning of the world come down from God when he shall say Come ye blessed inherite the kingdom prepared for you of my father O howe ioyfull shall then the s aints be with Christ in Sion to whome paradise is thus opened plenteousnesse of heauenly benediction made readie the trée of life graunted the ioy of immortalitie imbraced and the Garlandes of glorification enioyed when the Lord shall so louingly say to his righteous people that haue runne the race in this life in the path of godlinesse saying Come ye blessed be ye clothed with your heauenly mansion come take the fréedome of your newe eternal citie your glorious habitation And beholde for euermore your God of glorie and partake the incomprehensible shining of his euerlasting beautie and brightnesse and now take the freedome of all inestimable ioyes with the vnspeakeable aboundance of all sweete reioycing for euer Therefore let this animate thée to heauenly conuersation of life that thou maist make thy election sure whereby thou mayest be crowned with this glorious garlande of euerlasting felicitie ioye and blessednesse worlde without ende AMEN Ephesians 1. ALlaude and praise be vnto the God of our Lorde Iesus Christ the father of glorie who hath giuen vnto vs the spirit of wisedome and hath lightened the eyes of our mindes that we may knowe what the hope is whereunto he hath called vs and how rich the glorie is of his inheritance vpon the Saintes and what is the exceeding greatnesse of his power to vs warde which beleeue according to the working of that his mightie power which he wrought in Christ when hee raysed him from the dead and set him on his right hande in heauenly things aboue all rule and power and might and dominion and aboue euery name that is named not in this worlde onely but also in the worlde to come and hath put all things vnder his feete and hath made him aboue all things the heade of the congregation which is his body the fulnes of him selfe that filleth all in all things to whom be all honor glorie Amen THE GLORIOVS AND BEAVTIFVL GARlande of mans glorification CAP. 4. Of the euerlasting ioy of our glorification giuen vs by
Cittie And therfore gird vp the loynes of your mindes with veritie put on the brest plate of righteousnes be shod with the shooes of peace take to you the sheild of faith arming your selues with the woord of God that you may be pertakers of his vnsearchable treasures of happines there tasting the abundant sweetenesse of the tree of ioy and life which shall be to vs a sweete smelling oyntment for euer for then we shall be called the heauenly citizens of newe Ierusalem the holy housholde of God and glorified sonnes of the Father being according to Paul an holy body in Christ made a glorious congregation without spotte or wrinckle placed in his owne kingdome and sabboth of euerlasting rest like shining lightes in the presence of God world without end Therefore consider what happinesse is this to enioy the ineffable brightnesse and vnsearcheable plenteousnesse of Gods goodne sse with the ioyful presence of God his owne selfe whereat the zeale of gods house should eate vs vp and rauish our hearts with flaming feruencie to Godward desiring to be clothed with our heauenly mansion from heauen by waiting with a liuely hope in the way of righteousnesse to be deliuered from this body and fleshly fellowship that we may goe to haue the pure heauenly companie of God our maker the precious fountaine of all heauenlinesse ioy and happinesse there with him to remaine in his owne kingdome where all things shal be to vs pleasant and full of contentation for euer where perpetuall ioy and gladnesse shall abide for euer Esay 54. for saith God Beholde O Ierusalem I will make thy walles of precious stones and thy foundation of saphyrs thy windowes of Christall thy gates of fine cleare stone and thy borders of pleasant stones Es ay 62. for I will saith God marrie my selfe to thy sonnes and as a bridegrome glad of his bride so I the Lorde shall reioyce ouer thee So that praise the Lorde O Ierusalem praise thy God O Sion for he hath made fast the heauenly barres of thy gates hath blessed thy childrē within thee that we shall dwell in thy pallaces made the elect Saintes and sonnes of God in all plenteousnesse of ioy and peace reioysing in his holy sanctuary of euerlastingnesse where we shall walke in the court and pallace of our God ascribing praise and honour to him in his places of eternitie and there we shall sing merily vnto our God lauding and worshipping him in the beautie of his holinesse for the spirit of ioy shall there be triumphing among vs in his glorious chariot of heauenlinesse in that we shall beholde the face of God whose Maiestie endureth visibly with vs for euer shewing vpon vs the light of his countenance and filling vs rounde about with the incomprehensible sweetenesse goodnesse ioyfulnesse and excellentnesse of his owne selfe shining flowing and streaming foorth to vs the beames of beautie the brightnesse of glorie the fountaines of ioy the riuers of life the paradise of pleasure the fréedome of delightes the ornaments of honour the plenteousnes of reliefe the pleasantnes of all heauenly sauours the sweete smelles of all redolent odours and thus he shall reioice his glorified Saints eternally who shall be rauished with endlesse mirth and gladnes to behold with their eyes the infinite inexpressible excellencie and splendencie of the beautie of their maker and to heare the great power might and maiestie of his omnipotent voyce And thus the chosen of God being indued with the ornaments of immortalitie garlandes of glorie crownes of life and palmes of ioy and victorie are in their heauenly clothing in new Ierusalem in the sight of the glorious throne of the most highest being consembable to God in purenes and clearnes enioying the fréedome of eternall blessednes therefore O swé ete people repent for this kingdome is at hande and come to the waters of life and stirre vp your mindes to holinesse that you may enioy this blessed Cittie For Christe after his ascension to stirre vp winne a feruent desire to our hearts towards the séeking after this his kingdome doeth shew a glistering vision of newe Ierusalem to the spiritual eies of Iohn that he being vpon an high mountaine did sée in Ghostly comprehension the cons emblance of this holy Ierusalem descending out of heauen from God hauing the brightnesse of God shining like to a stone most precious Reuel 21. euen a Iasper cleare as Christall being thereby a most flourishing Citie translucident in all heauenly pleasantnesse most plentifull with all goodnesse most beautifull to beholde and most glorious to enioye and this Citie is more precious then pearles an habitation so amiable so louely so deare and desirefull that it includeth in it selfe the vnmeasurable and endlesse fulnesse of heauenly riches eternall felicitie and happinesse vnspeakeable pleasures ioyes and gladnesse ordeined eternally vnto the elect and glorified people That who woulde not O Lord loue the habitation of this thy house and the place where thine honour dwelleth which thou hast made a moste sure and safe Citie impugnable for euer being bordered and compassed rounde about with the walles of eternitie great high and strong which stande fast for euer And her walles sayeth Esay shall be called health Esay 60. Zacha. 2. And the Lorde sayeth Zacharie will be vnto her a wall of shining fire rounde about And yet the entrance into this Citie shall bee by twelue gates kept by the goodly Porters and Angelles the twelue tribes of Israel that the gates of newe Ierusalem according to the saying of the Prophet Esay shall be called the praise of God Esay 60. being agréeable in euery part in with and to it selfe in perfect nomber of equalitie and sympathie concording euery side together in one conclusion in the whole As Alpha and Omega is the first and the last as one perfect nomber of eternitie in many The liuely description of newe Ierusalem and the same many concluded in of and by that one And thus consymbolicall in deuine mysterie hath Ierusalē a quadrate equilateral forme with three gates on the North side three on the East three on the South three on the West side foūded with twelue foundations euen the holy Apostles of whom the walles conflict euen the great high nomber of the elect And thus there beeing in newe Ierusalem many gates and many heauenly openings to goe in at to praise the Lord yet are they one in many and many in one cohering in the same like a radicall roote out of which springeth a radicall nomber and yet that nomber so rising out of his roote to an high and great nomber as that it hath a true and perfect coniunction of vnitie The mys terie of a Radicall roote and radicall nomber to Christ and his elect simpathie and concordance of with and in his radicall roote whereby it is one of it selfe and of that same one rising out many and that many still
abiding inseparably in one concordance of with and in that one as a thing vnpossible that that great radical nomber should consist or be found without his roote radicall neither also is it possible to be thought a roote radicall to be but that in his owne nature and power of force are many nombers radicall inclusiuely conteined in this his roote as in a priuie seale of most heauenly comprehension so that the nomber of twelue is a radicall nomber which by vertue and power of it selfe multiplied in it selfe doeth of it selfe produce a greater nomber as an hundred fourtie and foure and so the heauenly harmonie increaseth by consent and agreement of radicall production yet this high nomber doth concord vnite and knit it selfe in of and with this radical nomber of twelue So that the twelue apostles being the twelue foundations raised out of one corner stone wherof the walles of Ierusalem do stand are the radicall roote whereof the great nomber of the elect in one symbolicall conformitie and concordance of vnitie doth agrée in perfect harmonie of coniuction as euer abiding in of with his foundation or radical roote and so by vertue power of perfect production coniunction concordance and harmonie is one in many and many in one conteined in perfection of heauenly mysterie Whereby this Radicall foundation and roote twelue Apostles springing out of that only roote of Iesse dooth conteine his measure of Ierusalem so vnder the vertue figuratiue of twelfe as the number of the whole elect of the twelue trybes that the heigh length breadth is equalll and the measure of the walles is a perfect radicall number of the radicall root of twelf multiplyed in him self which in his owne strength and power produceth and hūdreth fortie and fower a figuratiue signe of the vnitie and consent of the misticall number of the whole congregation of the elect number of the Sainctes for as twelue augmented in it selfe dooth therof concurre a certaine true perfect radicall number consemblably agréeing to in and with the roote twelf wherof it ryseth so in lyke consent vnity harmony perfect number and true increase of production and concordance is the vniuersall Church triumphant to the radicall roote of the twelue Apostles and their doctryne so knyt all in one roote of Iesse inseperably as one in many many in one in ghostly harmony euermore abyding And thus in lyke manner is this euerlasting habitation or new Ierusalem so absolute in all true perfection iust proportion of heauenly consent as nothing can be better nothing purer nothing excellenter and nothing more woorthyer to the euerlasting reioysing of the elect sainctes of God cohering in one self same perfection of one consēt peace and vnitie for euer And now the vision of this glorious Cittie wherin the glorified people shall dwel did glister in the spirituall eies of Iohn in such transparent maner as may animate all harts to the earnest looue and desire of inioying so beautifull an habitation Reue. 4. and so precious a Cittie of blessednes For the buylding of the walles was of Iasper and the Cittie of pure golde lyke to the cleare glasse and the foundation of the walles were garnished with all manner of pretious stones as of Iasper Saphir Calcydon Smaradge Sardonix Sardeos Crisolitie Byrrall Topas Crisoprassos Iacynt and Amatist wherby appeare the abundant riches of all vertues the innumerable treasures of all heauenlynes the exceeding ioyes of all ioyfulnes the vnspeakable swéetnes of all blessednes the moste precious felicitie of all happynes to bee alwaies there conteyned to the perpetuall gladding and reioysing of the hartes of the elect of GOD for the Cittie in euerie parte with the whole and of the whole with euerie parte is without spotte and dymnes without blemish and wryncle for euer being in euerie parte the selfe perfection for euer that in her cōpasse euer is the excelleecie of all excellentnes that nothing can be added Otherfore that the power glorie and mightines of this kingdome of Ierusalem might bee knowen to all men whose glorie is euerlasting and her dominion indureth through all ages for shée hath her gates wrought without hands and yet grauē by high ministerie beeing of twelue beauties like incomparable pearles and yet by heauenly vertue Reue. 4. they shine as many yet still in one And the streat of the Cittie was moste goodly conssisting of pure golde as a through shyning glasse Shewing that it is most riche with all fulnes of riches the mightiest Kingdome of all incomparable treasures Reue. 12. the phenicall Cittie of all inestimable heauenlie merchandize beeing moste delectable abooue all delightes moste beautifull abooue all fairnes most cleare aboue all clearnes most of all resplēding that the night is as cleare as the day and the darknes and light bothe a lyke abooue all brightnes in which wee shall reigne with the Father of all brightnes greatnes beautie and glorie who euermore holdeth the Sainctes and Citizens there in perpetuall blyss e and ioy touching such an heauenlie mansion wherwith they are clothed For that the Lord God almightie and the Lamb are the Temple of it and the brightnes of God doo lighten it and the Lamb is the light of it that there is neuer night neuer need of sunne or moone neither shall the gates euer be shut for the seate of God and the Lamb shall be there Reue. 22. and they shall see his face and his names shall bee vppon their Foreheades And then they are a moste blessed People hauing the Lord for their God that insomuch it is a thing beyond all measure a place of ioy beyond all thoughtes where wee shall haue the fréedome of Angells the paradice of ghostly delightes the incomprehensible brightnes of Gods con̄tenance satisfied with the pleasures of his house and kingdome in the aboundant and bountifull refreshinges of all sweet and delectable gladnes by beholding our GOD in his greatnes béeing the Creator of all creatures the giuer of all blessednes and Author of all heauenlines the omnipotent maker of kingdomes powers and dignitie that all thinges shall yeeld vp their glorie to this Cittie of his Saincts bothe kinges and powers and whatsoeuer hath béen created shall yéelde vp his honour and vertue to this Cittie bothe waters and stones frutes and leaues Reue. 2◠For out of the seat of God and of the Lamb procedeth pure Riuers of water of lyfe hauing on eueerie side woode of eternall life and frutes and leaues of euerlasting helth according to the saying of the Prophet Esay There lyeth no man that sayeth I am sicke for all euill is clearely taken away from the holy and blessed Citizens that dwell and inhabit there And thus the glorified and blessed People of GOD shall continue and euer remain in the glorious presence of Gods moste excellent maiestie in the euerlasting and eternall state of vnspeakable ioyes and hapines euermore walkeing in the puritie of the shyning and moste cleare light