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
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
righteousnes vnto eternall life That all that beleeue in him walking after the spirite and not after the fleshe might be pertakers of his heauenly kingdome and made the sonnes of God For which cause to the better confirmation of our faith and hope of saluation It is requisite to shewe the ordenance and promyse of God from the beginning touching our iustification in his sonne Iesus Christ that thereby wée may be stirred vp by the great goodnes of god for to séeke by Christe Cor. 1.2 the riches of his glorious inheritance vpon the Sainctes Ephe. 11. hée béeing ordained thereto of God before the beginninge of the worlde was made vnto our glory Touching whome in this Booke of mans glorification wée must especially looke vnto Christes two coÌ„mings séeing that hée is the Author and finisher of our redemption and hath adopted vs to be the sonnes of glory by appearing once in the fleshe to put sinne to flight by the offering vp of him self to death whome the Father raysed vp to lyfe and is entred into heauen to appeare now in the sight of God for vs and shall come againe to chaunge our vile bodyes Phil. 3. to be facyoned lyke to his glorious body Wherfore in that wée haue such an high Aduocate in heauen by whome wée haue an incorruptible crowne of blessednes propounded and set before vs Let vs walke woorthy and laudable vnto God according to the grace giuen vs in Iesus Christe that wée may obteine the rewarde thereof And now to consider the purpose of the heauenly Father how hée hath blessed vs in all manner of heauenly thinges by Chris te according as hée hath chosen vs that wée should be Saints through the beloued Iesus It followeth that wée kéepe alwayes a ioyfull remembrance that as the glory of the last house or teastament of God was greater then the first so is it in the manner of the two commings of Christ for first hée came in the humilitie of the fleshe to be to vs a sauing health béeing borne of the Virgin Mary by the woorking of the holy Ghoste very man and mortall and yet the same very GOD and immortall who béeing in the shape of God and equall with God Collos s â— Phil. 2. in whome dwelleth all the fulnes of the Godhead bodyly yet did he neuerthelesse make him self of no reputation takeing vpon him the shape of a seruant and became lyke vnto man and was founde in his apparell as a man humbling him self to all obedience for though hé e were Gods sonne yet learned hée obedyence Heb. 5. by those things which hée suffered and was made perfect Ihon. 1. and the cau se of eternall saluation vnto al that obey him according to Iohn In the beginning was the woord and the woord was with God and the woord was God and this woorde was made fleshe beeing the lyfe and light of men giuing power to all that beléeue in him to be the sonnes of God for it pleased the father to send his sonne in the sinfull fleshe béeing without sinne and by sinne dampned sinne in the flesh and loused the woorkes of the deuill Rom. â— Whome he maketh heire of all things béeing the brightnes of him self bearing vp all thinges with the woord of his power for so it was the will of the Father that in him should all fulnes dwell Heb. 1. and that in him all thinges should haue their béeing that hée might be all in all Thus the Almighty Creator hath performed his blessed promyse Collossians â— when hée sayde that the séede of the Woman shall breake the Serpents head and when long after he sayd vnto Abraham vnto thy séede will I giue this land Gen. 3. for one that come out of thine owne body shall be thyne heire and thy seede shall bee as the starres in number And Abraham beléeued the Lord and it was imputed to him for righteousnes Gen. 15. And also the Lord sayde againe to Abraham when he was 89 yeare olde I will make my couenant betwéen mée thée and will multiply thé e excéedingly for behold my testameÌ„t is with thée that thou shalt be a father of many nations my bond betwéen mée thée thy séed after thée shal be an euerlasting testament Gen. 17. I wil be good to theÌ„ giue theÌ„ the land wherin thou art a stranger euen all the lande of Canaan for an euerlasting possession and wil be their God for Saâ—a shall beare a sonne and thou shalt call his Name Isac and she bare Abraham a sonne euen the same season which the Lord had appointed Thus it pleased the Almightie God to choose vs and not we him shewing foorth hereby the abundancie of his loue and mercie in that he hath mercie vpon theÌ„ which are not yet in the worlde and in that he declareth his great goodnes in multiplying his louing kindnesse towarde those that are present and to them that are past and to them that are to come for after that Adam thorough sinne brought in the corruption of nature that the euill seede of wickednesse was sowen in all mens hearts whereby death raigned by meanes of sinne then this darnell and cockle of vice and iniquitie did grow ripe in the first generations of Adam that they walked after their owne stubborne and fleshly will neglecting Gods goodnes That the Lord was thereby prouoked to bring his water floud vpon the world and destroy all mankind except Noye and his houshold And then after that the ofspring of Noye was againe multiplied to a great people by processe of time they waxed also vngodly and wicked but the Lord had giuen his raine bowe for a couenant that he would neuer destroy the world with watermore And then the most highest did choose him a man from among them whose name was Abraham whom he loued and to him onely God shewed his wil and made an euerlasting couenant with him promising him as is aforesaid that he will neuer forsake his seede and so in his old age gaue him Isaac the first testimonie of Gods promise and couenant begun so faithfully performed in Christ Iesus to the ioy and comfort of man in that we see euidently that God is righteous and true and hath giuen vs an assured hope of our election that by that onely seede of Abraham we shal enioy the euerlasting possession of that new blessed land of Canaan the first lande of promise Therefore this record we must beare in our selues that God is true and that what hee do or say can no man change what he promiseth he can not but perfourme And nowe the more to confirme this ioye faith hope which Abraham our first father of beliefe had to God in respect of the birth of Isac and prosperitie of his seede The Lorde to our example tryed whether righteous Abraham would beare an immutable minde towardes his God to loue him aboue all the dearest thinges which he
of our selues for it is the gift of God and commeth not of woorkes Ephe. 2. least any should boa st him self for we are his woormanship created in Christ Iesus vnto good woorks that wee shoulde walke in them so that none can looue Christe in purenes of hart but that of verry force hée will walke in good woorks as thinges that are vnpossible to bée seperated from him that is sanctified with the spirit of adoption and grace for as Christ is the fountaine of all holynes and righteousnes and of all grace and goodnes so it must needes followe that whome Christe hath sanctified with his Spirit that they must of necessitie doo the woorkes of grace and righteousnes so long as they labour and indeuour to be renued and confirmed in the spirit of grace which wée receiuing and takeing of Christe must of force confesse that without it wée haue no power to crucifie our fleshe and to resist sinne and therfore by it wée haue power to mortifie our earthly members and to doo the woorkes of righteousnes whereby it is moste euident and plaine that by the grace giuen by Christe through faith wée may assuredly and boldely perswade our s elues that wee are only iustified and saued Therefore saith Peter Pet. 1.1 blessed be God the father of our Lord Iesus which through his aboundant mercie begat vs againe to a liuely hope by the resurrection of Christe from death to inioy an inheritance immortall and vndefiled reserued in heauen for vs after which the prophets inquired and searched prophesying of the grace that shuld come vnto vs by the spirite of of Christ which testified before of the passions that should come vnto him and the glorie that should follow after for by Christ we are made spirituall and not carnall whose spirite doth certifie our spirite that we are the sonnes of God and heires annexed with him who was ordained before the worlde was made that by him our faith and hope might be in God so that our iustification come not by the deedes of the law but by the faith of Iesus Christ according to Paule Thess â—â— God hath from the beginning chosen you to saluation through sanctifying of the spirite and through the beleeuing of the truth whereunto he called you by the gospell for Christe is the end of the law to iustifie all that beleeue Rom. 8 Gal. 6. walking not after the flesh but after the spirite for what soeuer a man soweth that shall he reape if he sow in the flesh hee shall of the flesh reape corruption but if he sow in the spirite he shall of the spirite reape life euerlasting for they that are Christes Gal. 5. haue crucified the flesh with the appetites and lustes thereof for Christ hath called vs to holynes and not to vncleannes and hath called vs out of bondage into libertie from the curse of the law vnto grace from darknes to light from death to life from the spirite of feare to a liuely hope from a earthly mansion to an heuenly kingdome from transitorie glorie to euerlasting glorification therefore stand grounded and established in faith not moued away from the gospell but stand fa st in the liuely hope to obtaine the glorie that commeth by Christ Rom. 8. being vnfainedly pers waded that there is no damnation to them that are in Christ Iesus walking after the spirite and hauing their conseruation in heauen For Christ our sauiour sitting now in the right hand of God in his maiestie Ephe. 1. was before the world was by whom wee are predestinated heires according to the purpose of him that worketh all things after the purpose of his owne will that through his gospell should be brought life and immortalitie to all that do beleeue in his sonne Iesus Christ the seede of promise to Abraham who now is declared openly whom we looke for to come shortly in the glorie of his Father and all holy Aungels with him in all power and maiestie And that all eies shall see him and they also that pearsed him so that al kindreds of the earth shall mourne when they behold Christ comming in the cloudes Reu. 1. to reward euery man according to his deedes therfore it behoueth vs to watch and pray and to become new creatures thereby making our election sure by holding fast his gospell in a stedfast faith by walking after righteousnes that we may ouercome and be found faithfull at the appearance of Christ comming in glorie that we also may be crowned with glorie ioyfully saying Blessed is the kingdome that commeth in the name of him Mark 11. that is Lord of our Father Dauid Hosanna in the highest Ephe. 1. BLessed be God the Father of our Lorde Iesus Christ which hath blessed vs with all maner of spirituall blessings in heauenly things by Christ according as he had chosen vs before the foundation of the world was laid that we shoulde bee Saintes through loue who ordained vs before through Christ to be heires vnto him selfe according to the good pleasure of his will to the praise of the glorie of his grace wherewith hee hath made vs accepted through the beloued Iesus by whom wee haue redemption through his bloud euen the forgiuenes of sinnes according to the riches of his grace Therefore to him be all honor and glorie world without end Amen THE GLORIOVS and beautifull garland of mans glorification CAP. 2. How man shall bee chaunged at the sounde of the laste troump from mortalitie to immortalitie and from an erthly nature to an euerlasting nature and appeare before the iudgement seat of Chris t to be rewarded according to his deedes eyther with eternall reproufe or els with euerlasting glorification SVch is the eternall ordenance of the Almightie God touching our saluation in his Sonne Iesus Christe that all men ought too knowe that as by a man came death so by a man come the resurrectioÌ„ of the dead for as by Adam all dye so by Christe shall all bee made alyue according to Iohn Iohn 5. The houre shall come in the which all that are in their graues shall heare Christes voice and shall come foorth they that haue done good to the resurrection of lyfe and they that haue done euill to the resurrection of dampnation Esdras 22. as the Lord sayd by the Prophet Those that be dead will I rayse vp againe from their places Daniell 12. bring them out of their graues and they that sleepe in the dust of the earth shall awake some to euerlasting lyfe Acts. 17. some to perpetuall shame and reproufe as it is in the Acts that the Lord hath appointed a day in the which hée will iudge the world according to righteousnes by that man Christe whome hee hath appointed and hath offered faith to all men after that reysed him from death to whome saieth Iohn the Father hath coÌ„mitted all iudgement because that all men should honor the sonne euen as they
honor the Father that who soeuer heareth Christes woâ—des and beléeue on him that sent him Ihon. 5. hath euerlasting lyfe and shall not come to damnation but is scaped from death vnto lyfe for he only hath the keyes of hell and death and shall iudge the quick Reue. 1. and the dead at the appearing of his kingdome were all shall be brought before the iudgement seat of Christe Tim. 2.4 and euerie one giue accountes of him self to God for the time is come that iudgement must begin at the house of the Lord consider therefore what kynde of people we ought to bée in conuersatioÌ„ of lyfe Pet. 14. séeing the righteous iudgement of God shall be opened which will reward euery man with prayse honor and immortalitie that hath cuÌ„tinued in good dooing Rom. 2. and vnto them which hath béen sinfull disobeying the trenth following iniquitie shall come indignation and wrath tribulation and anguish vpon the soule of euerie man that doe euill for there is no parcialitie with God but dooth iudge without respect of persons according to euerie mans woorkes as shall appeir at the great day of the Lord when God shall iudge the secretes of men by Iesus Christe according to the Gospell when we must appeir â—e before his glorious and shining maiestie that euery man may reape according as he hath sowen Heb. 4. whereuppon wée are moste carefully to looke into our owne selues knowing that our soules shall be wayes vpon the ballance by that moste true and righteous Iudge whose eyes are as a flame of fire that sercheth out the ground of our hartes and knoweth the seceret mouings of our myndes iudgeth all the thoughts and intentes of man to whome all things are naked bare neither is there any creature inuisible in the sight of him who will not fayle to to recompence euery man according to his wayes and according to the frutes of his counsels and imaginations Now then that this generall cytation of our infallible apperaÌ„ce before that Court regall which God will holde with all fleshe is so apparent wée should perswade that the knoweledge héerof is moste forcible to strike into our hartes a trembling feare and dread of our Lord God who is a consuming fire to all that doe continue in wickednes so that it behoueth vs not to make lighte accompte of so great and fearfull a matter and it standeth vs vppon not to bee necligente and carelesse of the order and maner of our liues séeing it toucheth our Soules so neare the quicke as that by the conuersation of lyfe in this world the marke and garland is so set before vs that if wee run the race of this life Math. 2.5 like to the fiue good Virgines hauing prepared in our selues in the grace of Christ that lamps of righteousnes sanctifying the Lord God in our harts by good conuersation in Christe then wee shall accompanye Christe or bridegroome in the great day of his comming shall go in with him to the wedding and to the inioying of our new heauenly Ierusalem which is to coÌ„e down froÌ„ God from heauen preparhd as a Bryde for her husband Roue 19. béeing rayes with the goodly raines of the righteousnes of Saincts for the mariage of the vndefiled Lamb and for the glorious companie of the holy elect who then are happie that they are called vnto the lambes supper ther crowned with the garland of glorification Otherwise if wee run the race of this lyfe like the fiue foolish Virgines not respecting the rule of righteousnes nor imbracing the Oyle of gladnes brought to vs by Christes Gospell but wallowing in wickednes and so seek after our fleshly lusts warldly vanities then we must be shut out from this heuinlie wedding and throwen down from the face of God from his Sanctes into that dreadfull darcknes where all are wrapt in sorrow wot made the dampned children of cursed sâ—â—haÌ„ Phil. 2. for which cause we ought to watch pray knowing not what day or hours the sonne of man shall come therfore we ought to watch pray woorking out our salâ—â—â—â—â—◠〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—es t that our misdéeds seperate vs from our God and our sinnes hide his face for â—â—er from vs. Wherfore ye Prachers cry out the voice of heauines the lamenting cryes of dolefulnes which shall come vnto the wicked lyuers vnlesse they repent and yée Preachers sound out the voice of ioy of mirth and gladnes that shall come vnto the godly people and thou hart faint not and thou hand slack not to vtter foorth and wriâ—â— how the gates of heauen staÌ„d open night and day for penitent sinners for the faithfull godly and righteous people to receiue them into blessednes and shewe thy self a watchman to awake with this voice all the people round about out of the sléeping bed of sinne blowing into the eares of deafe sinners wretched worldlings fleshly lyuers vicious walkers and wicked dooers how hell gates doe gape very wide â—n moste dreadfull maner to swallowe vp vngodly and wicked men Num. 16. O how did the Isralites tremble and quake when they did se the earth open and s wallow vp Corath Leui. 10. Dathan and Abyron with all that they had that they went down quick to hel O how did the Isralites tremble and shake when a consuming fire came out from the Lord and cons umed Nadab and Abihu the sonnes of Aaron Num. 11. then come hither yée Inhabiters of the earth and behold with gushing teares with sorrow and terrour with sobbes and sighes the day of vengeance with much more terrour of the gates of hell gaping and gas ping in most hydious monsterous and horrible manner to swallow by 〈◊〉 diffent 〈◊〉 and again con sider how the Isralites did saâ—â—â—â—or â—â—are when â—â—â—re of the Lord did burne among them and consumed the vtter mo ste of the hoast Exo. 19. Deut. 4. and how againe they shaked for dread when the Lord came down vpon mount Sinay with tempest sound of the trump speaking out of fire baâ—nnow come hither all ye people of the Lord beholde the day of the Lord for he coÌ„meth to take vengeance reward yea he coÌ„meth him self lyke a goldsmiths are 〈◊〉 the heauens shall perish the elemeÌ„ts melt the earth all the 〈◊〉 withâ—â—â—â—â—e according to Paule who saith that Thess 2. â— Hee shall come with his mightie Aungels in flaming fire rendring vengeance vnto them that know not God and to them that obey not the gospell of our Lord Iesus Christ which shall be punished with euerlasting damnation from the presence of the Lord and from the glorie of his power when he shall come to be glorified in his saintes and made maruelous in all them that beleeue therefore harken vnto this voice with sorrow of thy sinnes and remember this day with trembling and repenting knowing how miserable those sinners were that continued in wickednes and
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
the inheritance of Christ his Kingdome And the excellent misterie of our eternall Mansion and new glorious Ierusalem in which wee shall dwell the Sonnes and Saincts of GOD for euer THE tyme beeing come that the Lord euen the most mighte God dooth dissend from the hye toppe of the heauens Psalme 50. to call the worlde togither not mynding to kéep silence then shall go before him a consuming fire and a mightie tempest shal be stirred vp round about him when hée thus shall come to call the heauens from aboue the earth that he may iudge his people at which tyme shall God appeare out of Sion in perfect beautie in the high glorie of his Godhed And then shall be performed that all thinges in heauen and earth shall be gathered togither in Christe Ephe. â— and the misterie of the will of the Father declared that Christe our triumphant King and Iudge hauing reigned vntill his enemies be put vnder his féete and hauing put down all rule authoritie and power that death the last enemy is consumed into victorie shall delyuer vp the kingdome to GOD the Father and become him selfe subiecte to God that putteth all thinges vnder his feet Cor. 1.15 that God may bee in all thinges and then the holy Cittie new IerusaleÌ„ commeth down from God out of heauen prepared as a Bryde garnished for her husband that the Tabernacle of God is now with his elect and hée him selfe dooth dwell with them and they shall be his people and God him felf shall be with them and shal be their God for Christe the king of kings will suffer none of his chosen to be away but gather all his Saincts together and so enter with triumphing Ioy into new Ierusalem Therfore lyft vp your heads O yée gates and be lyft vp ye euerlasting dores that the king of glorie may come in with his holie people hauing the palmes of victorie crownes of lyfe and Garlands of glorie in their hands Math. 21. And thus in stead of his humble ryding vppon an asse he with all gloriousnes is accompaned into new IerusaleÌ„ with the eternall Crowne and Scepter of heauenly maiestie takeing possession of Abrahams new land of promise the euerlasting kingdome and inheritance of Gods rest saying to his righteous people come taste the cup of your saluation and imbrace the ioyes the happines the bessednes and vnspeakable glorie which the Father of heauen hath of his great loue here prepared for you in his pallace where now you are fully and absolutely come to the new land of Canaan the euerlasting inheritance and to holy mount Sion and to the Cittie of the liuing GOD the celestiall Ierusalem and to the enumerable fighte of Angels and vnto the congregation of the first borne soÌ„nes which are written in heauen Cor. 1 3. and to God the Iudge of all and to Iesus the mediator of the new Testament and to a kingdoÌ„e immoueable for euer where they are clothed with their heauenly mansion replenished with the glory ioy and blessednes which neither tung can vtter eye hath séene or hart hath thought and thus Christe hath made them the glorifyed sonnes of God and holy and peculiar people a congregation triumphant a kingly préesthoode and a perfect communion of Sainctes assembled togither in all purenes and precious nes with God before the presence of the almightie eternall Father who now sheweth foorth to you the light of his countenace that you shall beholde with ioy vnspeakable his moste glorious godhead his moste resplendent countenance and incomprehensible maiestie synging to him with an heauenly voice and blessed harmony in all abundancie of ioy the songs of praysing God for euer for that hée hath geuin vs the crowne of euerlasting lyfe and the fréedome of his etrenall kingdoÌ„e of glorie where now wée hunger no more nor feele infirmities neither dooth the sunne and moone giue lighte to vs any more for our pretious Lamb dooth dwell with vs Reu. 7. and feede vs and lead vs vnto fountaines of liuing water and our God wypeth all teares from our eyes clothing vs with the plentious ioy of our heauenly mansion new Ierusalem beeing full of mellifluous pleasures where all things are so heuenly that nothing can be better for there dwelleth euerlasting lyfe there groweth the trée of ioy there runneth the waters of helth there is the hidden maÌ„na of heauenly consolation the white stone of gladnes the new names of happines and there is the beautie of the Godhed glory of saincts incoÌ„parable blessednes for euer So that the GOD of all treuth hath performed that which hee spake by Esay the Prophet beeing moste fauourable and gracious vnto Sion saying There shall thyne eyes see new Ierusalem that glorious Habitation the Tabernacle that neuer shall remooue whose nayles shall neuer bee taken out worlde without end and her cordes shall neuer corrupte Esay 33. for the eternall maiestie of the Lord shall there bee present among vs and he shall be our Captaine and king that wee shall walke vpon fayre and beautifull Ryuers and pleasaunt Streames of lyfe where neither gallies rowe nor great shippes saile neither any man there lyeth that sayth I am sick but all euill is taken away from vs who therfore desireth not to dwell in the house of the Lord and to beholde the fair beautie of God and to visit his Temple and to be in his citie in which sayeth Zacharie The waters of lyfe run out of Ierusalem and the Lord him self s halbe king ouer all the earth Zacha. 14. and there shal be but one Lorde onlye and his name shal be but one for then shall he set vp him self aboue the heauens and his glorie shall be aboue all when hée shall make a new heauen and a new earth that men shall goe about the earth as about a golden Paradice or plesant florishing féeld For now IerusaleÌ„ shall be saifly inhabited which was forsaken and is made according to the saying of Esay The Cittie of the Lord moste glorious through all posterities Esay 60. beeing inhabited without any wall yea the Lord him self is to her a wall of fire round about and will be honored euermore in her Where all thinges are full of the shyne of the Lords glorie so that O beholde this phenicall Cittieâ—Ierusalem how shee shall reioyce in hir Children and hir Children shall bee full glad of her whose gates are buylt with Saphire and Smaradge and all the walles with precious stones Toble 13. and in all her streates shall Aleluia be sung where Gods kngdome shall bee vpon her world without end Therfore O children of men so do that you may be Citizens in this citie of incoÌ„parable blessednes for the obtaining wherof Ephes 6. it behoueth you to walke as the children of the day light striuing to ouercome all the lustes of the fleshe the world and the deuil as might hinder you from entring in to so heauenly a
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
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
euery parte doeth the selfe same thing as the Spirite and Lambe doeth leade them Coloss 1. hauing the preheminence so that for euermore they remaine glorified with euerlas ting life peace vnitie and puritie of all perfection and brightnesse in the sight of the Almightie for all thinges with them are Symbolicall to Gods Maiestie That as Iesus Christ our Lorde and Redéemer is the Sonne of God begotten of God God of God and God in God that their insearchable nature is such that they are both one in it selfe And the Holy Ghost from them proceeding beeing the euerlasting Spirite of the euerlasting Father and Sonne being of inseparable nature all together in it selfe so that being three persons in Trinitie yet is it one euerlasting vnitie for in them is one Communion of Godhead that the fulnesse of the Godhead dwelleth in the three persons Almightie both bodely and Substantially And nowe as this euerlasting power and Godhead is coadvnited a perfect Trinitie in Vnitie and Vnitie in Trinitie So we of God to God and in God are adopted Saintes of holinesse by Iesus Christ our Sauiour the eternall worde sonne of God by whome we are made in most excellent true resemblance of Godly nature partakers of Gods glorie and purenesse Phil. 3. being ordeined of God to bee fashioned like the Sonne of God Ephe. 1. That what perfect coniunction of Godhead is betweene the trinitie and the vnitie The like heauenly harmonie by adoption shall be for euer of the Saintes of newe Ierusalem adopted true sonnes of God by the Sonne of God so fashioned like to his glorious bodie Phil. 3. So that as the euerlasting seate of Gods maiestie his eternal and incomprehensible place of power doth euer remaine with the Godhead as an eternall brightnes of the most holyest seate of all holinesse that where the Godhead is there is the s hining of his incomprehensible seate of brightnesse as a place eternall and incomprehensible agréeing to an Almightie and incomprehensible god and so an Almightie God with an incomprehensible place of glorie as one in a seate euerlasting vnsearcheable and vnmeasurable of all omnipotent Maiestie being an eternall creator and maker of a vniuersal seate of glorie neuer departing from the same as an immutable God in an immutable vniuersall and incomprehensible seate of honour and power So the Saintes and blessed elect haue a new mansion and glorious Citie descended from god in which they abide a kingly Priesthoode for euer And they shall neuer goe out of it but shall sit therein with Christ the Sonne of God being his seate of glorie giuen of the Father Reuel 3. where the elect shall s it with the Sonne of God in his kingdome as the Sonne did sit in his fathers seate of incomprehensible Maiestie And nowe such is the heauenly s ympathie and consembable resemblance of our heauenly mansion or newe Ierus alem answering to the incomprehensible seate of the glorie of the eternall maiestie That as the incomprehensible seate of glorie is euer with God so our new Ierusalem is euer with the saints being an euerlasting and heauenly clothing Cor. 2.5 with which the elect are euermore clothed That where the first begotten Sonne of God and by him the adopted sonnes of God doe go mooue or alleuate them selues towarde the omnipotent God in like sort doeth the eternal tabernacle or seat as a glorious clothing or euerlasting garmēt with a glorified body continuing inseperably for euer And thus wée are conioyned as one harmonie and perfect consent of many vnited in one cōmunion with Gods holines so glorified in the Author and Father of glorie clothed with the substanciall pertakeing of his goodly seat of glory according to Esay I will make a new Ierusalem saith the Lord that shall be glorious through all posterities Esay 4. ◠Peace shall be the ruler and Righteousnes the officer the walles shal be called helth and the gates the prayse of God and God shall bee thy euerlasting light and thy God shall bee thy glorie And she shall be a crowne in the hand of the Lord and a glorious garland in the hand of her God and shall be called a new name the pleasure of God in her and God loueth her and god shall marry him self to her sonnes and as a brydegrome glad of his bryde so god of her Wherby appeare the infinit loue of God to his saincts and of them to God the inseperable coniunction of the glorie of God to new Ierusalem and to her sonnes and the reciprocate coniunction and euerlasting confirmation of them to him in substantiall glorification so that wee shall be in misterie as one pure vnspotted people sanctified in the participiation of the holynes of God being a multitude and yet one heauenly body vnited to one only holy and omnipotent God and thus the Saincts shall be ioyful with glorie behoulding the moste resplendent beautie of God ouer their heads lifting to him with one consent of heauenly melodie all prayse and honor euerlastingly Otherfore yée heauenly Congregation of sainctes sing prayses night and day to your God of glorie that you may dwell before God for euer And thus it is infinit to expresse and moste ioyfull to beholde the admirable treasures and riches layd vp for vs in Christ to come and it is excéeding gladsome to thinke what a plenteous costly pleas ant and glorious feast the Lord hath prepared by Christe for vs And let it reioyce you to the ground of your harts to consider how the Lord shall deck you lyke Bridegromes with the garments of heauenly helth and high blessednes and let your soules leap within you and daunce for ioy to think how you shall be decked with the garmēts of Gods beautie and be you mery in righteousnes and run cheerfully to godlynes of life that you may pertake with this euerlasting happines of new Ierusalem the glorie wherof is so excéeding that the high amplitude thereof cannot be expressed vnto which the spirit of God sayeth to thée come and your bryde her selfe euen Ierusalē saith come Therfore so run the race of your lyfe that thou maiest go into her and taste her water of lyfe there beholding the maiestie of GOD with all abundant ioyfulnes and so remaining in euerlasting glorification with Christ for euer and euer * ⎠* ALleluia saluation and glory and honour and power and might Reu. 19. bee as crybed to the Lord our God for true and righteous are his iudgementes therefore prayse the Lord God all yee that are his seruants and ye that feare him both small and great for the Lord our God omnipotent reigneth so that let vs reioyce and be glad and giue honour to him for the mariage of the Lamb is come and his wife made her self ready and to her was graūted that shee should be arrayed with pure and goodly raynes and the raines be the righteousnes of Saincts and now happie are they which are
saying Ye men and brethren girde you with the girdle of Gods veritie for through his abuÌ„dant mercie he hath begotten you again Peter 1.1 not with golde siluer but with the precious blood of his owne deare Sonne Iesus Chris t as of a Lambe vndefiled and without spot that ye should enioy an inheritance immortal and glorious prepared in heauen for you Therefore trust perfectly to the grace that is brought by Iesus Christ walking after the spirit abstaining froÌ„ fleshly lustes and fighting against the workes of darkenesse that your conuersation may be holy in the grace of Christ whereto hee hath called you through faith to saluation thus she neuer ceaseth making such godly perswasions to allure men to winne the glorie of Christes kingdome 2. True Religion And then preasing forwarde to come to the seconde staire after the veritie of the trueth receiued there stoode another beautifull Ladie arayed with all the shining garments that the first ladie conteined in her treasure house of trueth Reuel 12. for she was clothes with the brightnesse of the Sonne the cleare worde of God and the moone vnder her feete the righteous life of the true congregation and Church of Christ was her foote-stoole and the glorie of twelue starres ouer her head the doctryne of the Apostles and the righteousnes of their lyfe was her glorie wherewith shée decked and that came vp to her vpon this staire for shée was the nurcing mother of Christes little Children her name was true Religion Iohn 6. whome the righteous branch of Dauid did holde faste by the hand and lynked her with a chaine of golde of vnseperable loue vnto the first virgin her sister called the light of the Gospell that whosoeuer came to imbrace the first Lady with true sincere loue mu st also by the golden chaine of feruent loue come vp higher vnto this swéet virgin of true Religion Heb. â— to imbrace her giftes of grace hope and peace to professe stedfastly the true profession of Christe with all humblenes reuerence and obediynce vnto God then these being not all the stayres that confirmed a verteous man in the way to euerlasting life 4. Godlynes and perfect Righteousnes These Ladies pointed him to looke vp to the third golden stayre and there was a trym méek virgin very demure and humble euen as white and as méek as a dooue being rayed clothed with pure goodly raines of silke the garments of righteousnes down to the ground and she stood vppon the corner stone of Sion and shée was rich and had no end of her treasures Reue. 22. Pet. 1.1 she was fast linked with the golden chaine of vnseperable looue to the other two virgins her sisters that who so came vp to them she for her goodly raines and treasures sake stirred them vp with feruent spirit to come vp higher to s tandde with her and walke vpon the corner stone of Sion wher she by name being true godlines did set vp righteousnes in the ballance and filled all commers to her with the frute therof for she was as the shining light her beautie as the burning lamp did giue them the rich garments of righteousnes which the two first Ladies had made ready for them to weare which notwithstanding without this virgins asistance did shew in them naked and bare for shée being by name true and pure Godlynes did deck all men that had receiued the light of the Gospel and the profession of true Religion with the garments of health and precious armour of God Ephe. 6. putting vppon them the breast plate of righteous nes the sandalles of peace the shéeld of faith the helmet of saluation the bond of looue swoorde of the spirit saying Now walke yee as Children of the light Thess 1.5 and Children of the day for they that are Christes haue crucified the flesh with the appetites and lusts therof Gal. 5. and so walke in the spirit and doe the frutes therof and be not weary of well dooing but tread down the lustes of the fleshe which woorketh contrarie to the spirit to kéepe you back from this golden staire vnto whiche you are come wherin shine as lights in the world Iohn 1 5. holding fast the word of life and then aske any thing at Gods hand according to his will and he heareth your petitions Phil. 2. thus she reioyced all commers with the aboundant swéetnes of heauenly conuersation 4. Constancie perseuerance in righteousnes to the end And now preasting vp to the mark appointed the high calling in Christe these Virgins appointed a righteous man to go vp to the fourth golden stayr wher was a pure modest and méek Virgin clothed with a garment dipt in blood setting her feet very fast vpon the precious corner stone of Sion being lynked with the vnseperable and inuincible golden chaine of perfect loue stedfastnes of faith Reue. 19 impugnable patience vnto the other thrée Ladies her Sisters and her name was called Constancie perseuerance in the trouth vnto the end And then you might see many come running feircely out of the house of Esaw Pet. 1 1. Iames. 1.4 to make sharpe battels and ass aultes against this virgin shooting many arrowes of persecutions afflictions temptations and tribulations to beate her of that golden stair and to kill her and there you might see that shée was sore wounded that her garments were blooddie for the Lambs sake â—â—pe 3. Rom 8. Heb. 12. Cor. 2.1.52 and shée did holde fast the treuth and her faith did coÌ„tinue vnshaken of all the darts of persecutions and shée had a great Adamant in her hand and vppon it was written the wordes which the Lamb of glorie spake to Iohn from heauen to draw thereby all them that were come by grace in Christe to the other thrée stayres to come vp to her Reue. 23 to walke with constant faith and patience vpon the glaciall sea of perseruerance to the end and then shée sayd to them that were belowe come vp hether boldely and feare none of those thinges which you shall suffer for beholde the holy one of Israell that set vppon Dauids stoole byddeth you be of good cheare for I am with you saieth hée to the end of the world and hée saieth vnto Iohn Feare not I am the first and the last Reu. 1. and am aliue and was dead and beholde I am a liue for euermore and haue the keyes of hell and death Holde therfore fast the patience of my woordes to the end and thou shalt be safe Reu. 2. for whosoeuer ouercommeth and is faithfull to mée vnto death I wil giue him a crowne of lyfe and will make him a glorious piller in the Temple of my God Reu. 3. and shall sit for euer with me in my seat in new Ierusalem and thus this goodlie Ladie did comfort all commers with such heauenly consoation of Christes owne wordes who is faithfull
of euerlasting life for he that confesseth the treuth of mée before men Reuâ— 3. I will confesse his name before God and the holy Angels and hee that denyeth the treuth of me I will denye him O therfore beware and bee not féeble mynded and dismaid at yonder tempest of persecution for why hath not Christe moste louingly tolde thée that such extreame dangers shall come to passe and sayeth to the feare none of thos e thinges but holde out to the end and thou shalt be saued and crowned with eternall glorie why then wilt yâ— yéeld wilt thou now be shaken down like a figge from his figge trée O man remember thy self consider whereto thou dooest fall what art thou so nyce of thy fleshe so tender of thy skyn Be not remoued from the Gospel so feruent to Wife and Children so geuen to worldly riches and delights so bent to promotions so hastie to please men so adict to this Worlde so foolishe and madde to run with the multitude so ready to yéelde to the persecutors as to forget the day of the Lord when thou shalt altogither tremble and quake and giue an account of thy dooings what I say to thée with heauie gréef wilt thou abide no perrils no torments no imprisonment no affliction no hunger nor shame no wearines no losse of goodes no departing from fré ends no losse of life for Christes Gospell then thou maist say wo is my vntrutefulnes Wherefore pray with all instance that God may strengthen thy faith and that thou maist be endued with patience against all tribulations and that you may be preserued from dogges from Locustes and vnreasonable men And nowe while the doore of the Gos pell is open stablishe your heartes in the euerlasting consolation of faith hope loue and patience in Christ Dan. 12. And suffer aduersitie with him and with his Gospell through the power of God who hath giuen you the gift of grace For it is written that the dayes shall come in which you shall bée purifyed cleansed and tryed as golde in the fire Wherfore holde fast the patience of his name in all stormes of persecutions by looking vp ioyfully to heauen when thou art in the handes of the persecuters Reu. 6. and fettered to the stake of torments then to beholde the golden altar and see there the soules of them vnder the hande of Christ which hath suffred before you in the testimonie of Iesus Christ whether now thy soule skipping ioyfully out of thy body as one loosed out of bondage and prison do goe accompanied with Gods holy angel to those blessed soules there meeting together with praising and magnifying God vnder the golden altar for blessed are those that suffer for righteousnes sake An acceptable sacrfice to GOD And therefore consider what an acceptable sacrifice thou shalt be to God when thou shalt breath forth the swéete odours of prayers through the flaming fire or tortures of death vp before the face of God by yéelding thy life for his cause so that bee assured that thy inward ioy shall quench eat vp the outward paines and torments of death for it is written the Angel of the Lord tarrieth round about them that feare God Psalme 3. and deliuereth theÌ„ therefore feare not death for the gospels sake but suffer with christ that you may be glorified with him and so be of the nomber of them to whoÌ„ he shal s ay Come ye blessed inherite the kingdom and be crowned with the glorious garland of your glorification and so to conclude Luke â—â— Reioyce that your names are written in heauen TO THE Reader LIft vp your heades Christ is at hande Hosanna in the highest Receiue the gifte the kingdome come from heauen which is most purest The Lord doth com him selfe from heauen who is the king of kinges Arise you dead and put you on your newe immortall winges At Sion he will shewe him selfe prepare you to be there Where crownes of life and palmes of ioy the chosen then shall weare Arise therefore receiue the gifte of Gods eternall light Imbrace the ioyes beholde the face of God in open sight The holye Citie gloriously in brightnesse which excel Descendeth downe from God aboue wherein the Saintes shall dwell The wicked then shall stande without an heauie wooe to see The Lord shall say Depart ye hence you shall not be with me Arise therefore as true right heires Of that most blessed lande Sing out Hosanna in the highest Christes kingdome is at hande F. K. A PRAYER OF THANKESGIVING TO GOD THAT IT MAY PLEASE HIM TO sanctifie vs with his holy grace that we may dwell in Newe Ierusalem with a petition for our Soueraigne Queene that it may please God that she may reigne ouer vs many yeeres and after this life be crowned with the heauenly clothing of glorification WE most heartily thanke thée O Lorde God our heauenly Father for thy manifolde and inestimable benefits which thou hast giuen vnto vs both for our soules bodies and that fréely of thine owne goodnesse without our desertes wee thaÌ„ke thée that it hath pleased thée of thy great mercie to create and make vs to thine owne Image and Likenesse and being lost through the sinne of our first father Adam thou vouchsafedst of thy endlesse pitie to s aue vs and redeeme vs againe by the death and passion of thy welbeloued Sonne Iesus Christ our sweete Mediatour and Aduocate whom we looke for to come againe at the day of iudgement as a most louing Lord and Sauiour to carry vs with him into euerlasting glorie there to remaine with him worlde without end Therefore graunt vs sweete Lord God the riches of thy grace that we may haue the fruition of thy ioyes in thy heauenly kingdome of euerlasting blessednes And we beseech thée O Lord Iesus Christ which art the health of al meÌ„ liuing the euerlasting life to theÌ„ that die in thy faith to preserue 〈◊〉 thy seruant our Queene Gouernes so with thy blessed hand to fé ede â—â—â—spéede 〈◊〉 lead 〈◊〉 kéepe 〈◊〉 vnder thy holy wings that she may euermore faste the sweetenesse of thy riche mercie and great loue to the praise of thy holy Name and glorie of the Gospel and also to his glorification in the eternall kingdome of glorie And we thy seruantes and children by grace being ordeined by thee to be her faithfull subiectes doe beseech thée of thy great goodnes so to increase her with thy blessings that we may enioye him swéete gouerneâ—â—e to reigne ouer this Realme manye yeeres more in peace and tranquillitie and after this life to partake the euerlasting glorie of Christ to whome be all glorie honour and praise worlde without ende Amen GOD SAVE the 〈◊〉