God onely hee is like Noahs Arke to the tyred and wearied c Gen. 8.9 Doue hee is that liuing stone vpon which onely d Gen. 28.11 euery elect Iacob must lay his head and sleepe hee is that e Heb. 13.10 Altar vnder which the Saints departed repose themselues resting from their labours f Heb. 4.9 and finding rest for their soules And thus by the writing of the Name of God three things by Christ are promised a heauenly Inheritance a life aeternall and a rest euerlasting And the name of the Citie of my God which is the new Ierusalem which commeth downe out of Heauen from my God c. As it is an honour to haue a good name so it is a glorie to be of a famous Nation or a Citizen of a famous Citie The g Ioh. 4.9 woman of Samaria wondered that Christ being a Iewe by birth would aske drinke of her being a Samaritan for the Iewes medled not with the Samaritans holding them as ignoble in comparison of themselues and wicked people as wee may gather by their blasphemous speech to Christ Say we not well thou art a Samaritan and hast the diuell There is a great difference in the Excellencie of Nations Quaedam gentes saith Iulius Maternus ita a coelo formatae sunt vt propria sint morum vnitate conspicuae Some nations are so framed of heauen that they may be knowne by the proprietie of maners what countrymen they be And this varietie commeth from the diuersitie of Climates Ptolo. 2. Quadripart Liuius Apulei Iul. Maternus and the influence of the starres The Iewes be naturally superstitious the Egyptians learned the Syrians couetous the Sicilians acute the Africans craftie the Scythians cruel the Grecians vnconstant the Italians generous the French-men rash the Spaniards vaine-glorious the h Tit. 1.12 Cretians liers euill beasts slow bellies the Germans and Brittanes valiant These stampes of nature being considered we may conclude that it is farre more honourable for a man to be of one Nation or one Citie then another Our Sauiour Christ then because he would demonstrate the Glory of the Elect saith that he will write vpon them the Name of the Citie of Ierusalem hee will enfranchise and make them free of a famous Citie but wee must not looke for this Ierusalem in Iudaea no for of that Citie not one stone is left vpon another but we must cast our eyes vpwards i Apoc. 21.2 For it comes downe from God out of heauen prepared as a Bride trimmed for her husband The old Ierusalem was a type of the Church Millitant this New Ierusalem is a figure of the Church tryumphant the Old was often besieged and sackt a shaddow of the afflictions of the Elect here vpon earth the New is said to be garnished with twelue seuerall precious stones k Apoc. 21.19.20 the Iasper the Saphire the Chalcedonie the Emerald the Sardonyx the Sardius the Chrysolite the Beril the Topaze the Chrysoprasus the Iacinth and the Amethyst by which are signified the glorious endowments of the Elect in heauen In the number of twelue there be foure Triplicities and this Citie being fouresquare the precious stones like those in l Exod. 28.17 Aarons Breast-plate are set three three in a square by which foure Triplicities foure things may be vnderstood which shall concurre meet together to make the Elect most glorious The first is the Glorification of the body the qualifie and state whereof may fitly be resembled by the three stones of the first Triplicitie namely the Iasper the Saphire and the Chalcedonie First the Iasper is greene and being worne dispelleth all Phantasmes and driueth away euill spirits saith Isodore the healthfull state of our bodies after the resurrection shal paralele this Iasper they shall be like greene Oliue trees neuer withering neuer fading here while wee liue Diseases the Purseuants of death are euer like Sauls euill spirits at our elbowes haunting vs Dauid had the stone for his reines chastened him in the night season Iob his boiles and botches Miriam her leprosie and euen the most righteous haue their infirmities but at the last day our bodies shall be so changed that sicknesse shall exercise no tyranny ouer vs. Secondly the Saphire is hard and blew of the colour of heauen it killes the Spider and driueth away poisonous serpents such like shall our bodies be heauenly and beautifull no deformitie shal come neere to blemish them m Phil. 3.21 for Christ shall change our vile bodie that it may be fashioned like vnto his glorious body according to the working wherby he is able euen to subdue al things to himself Thirdly the Chalcedony is so hard that no toole of yron can graue it euen so thogh now Sathan workes vs like waxe and makes vs receiue his marke by tempting and alluring vs to giue our members seruants to vncleannesse yet then our bodies shall be purified we shall tread vpon the Lyon and the Dragon the diuell shall haue no more any power to make our bodies his Synagogue for they shall be the aeternall Temples of the holy Ghost The second thine is the Sanctification of the Soule the condition whereof we shall see in the three stones of the second Triplicitie to wit the Emerauld the Sardonyx the Sardius First the Emerauld is in colour Greene delightsome to looke on and very soueraigne against the falling Sicknesse like vnto this precious stone shall the soules of the Elect be made all glorious within and full of grace being so confirmed in Righteousnesse that whereas now the most iust man hath the falling sicknesse seauen times a day then Sin shall haue no more dominion ouer vs. Secondly the Sardonyx is of three colours it is Niger in imo candidus in medio rubicundus in supremo the lower part of it is blacke the middle white the top of it red so our Soules shall be Nigrae in imo blacke below for they shall contemne the malicious disseignes and stratagems of the diuell and smile in scorne at the destruction of him and his angels They shall be Candidae in mediâ— white in the midst being clothed like the Lillies of the field in long white robes of righteousnesse lastly they shall be in Supremo rubicundae Red aboue that is to say all glorious in regard of the golden crowne of immortalitie Thirdly the Sardius is a red stone and the vertue of it is to driue away timorousnesse and feare this shewes our future boldnesse and confidence here vpon earth wee work our saluation in feare and trembling but hereafter we shall approach boldly vnto the throne of God with Palmes in our hands in signe of victorie hauing washt our long white robes in the blood of the Lambe The third thing is the consummation of Charitie the attributes whereof be three for Charitie must be pure good and true these three are set forth by three stones in the third Triplicitie First the Chrysolite is of
a golden colour whereupon it hath that name it sparkleth and being laid before the fire wil quickly be inflamed burne This stone is an Embleme of our pure loue towards God the Father whose presence when we behold him face to face shall be so attractiue that our hearts shall be set on fire with his loue Secondly the Berill is greene hath power to procure Loue this stone is the Embleme of that good loue which shall be betwixt God the Sonne and vs who loued vs first and was incarnate and we then shall loue him most dearely being incorporated and made fellow heires with him Thirdly the Topaze is yellowish resembling the Sun-beames and it is an Embleme of our true loue towardes God the Holy Ghost which like the beames of the Sunne shall euer shine and whose heare shall neuer be quenched neuer extinguished The fourth thing is the perfection of Iustice expressed by the three stones in the fourth Triplicitie Iustitia est virtus saith Ambrose suum cuique tribuens Iustice is a vertue that giues euery one his due to euery one of vs that hath it it imparts Continencie to our neighbour friendship and to God honour Which three are discribed by the Chrysoprasus the Iacinth and the Amethyst First the Chrysoprasus in the night shines like fire in the day like golde In it behold our future perfection in Continencie and Temperance wee are now fraile and vnstable our passions and affections are euer changing in the day-time of prosperitie wee shine like gold wee reioyce in the Lord and magnifie his holy Name but in the Night of aduersitie we are of n Iob. 2.9 Iobs Wiues minde who counsailed her husband to curse God and die But in the world to come we shal be Et ignei aurei vel tanquam aurum probatum in igne Like gold tryed in the fire purged of all our drossie passions and earthy affections So absolutely Continent that if wee were lyable to Crosses yet should no Crosse crosse vs. Secondly the Iacinth euer suites it selfe to the temperature of the Aire if the aire be cleare it is bright if the aire be dimme it is darke Such like hereafter shall our disposition be altogether harmonicall Might there be in Heauen o Eccle. 3.4 a time to weepe and a time to laugh a time to mourne and a time to dance wee should mourne with them that weepe and laugh with them that daunce such should be the Symphathie of the Elect. Here vpon earth it is quite contrarie Wee weep with them that laugh and laugh with them that weepe one enuies at anothers prosperitie and reioyceth at anothers miserie and affliction 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Saith the Poet One Tyler enuies an other One Carpenter another one Musitian an other one Beggar another and one Courtyer an other but marke our alteration the ayre at the last day shall be purged and it will euer be faire and cleare weather all grudging and enuie shall be banished and we shall for euer be linked together in brotherly loue and friendship Thirdly the Amethyst is of a purple colour and sparkles like the fire a fit figure of that due honour which the zealous Elect in heauen shall giue to God for euer whilst we are clothed with this flesh euen the most righteous man is luke-warme in Gods seruice but when this Corruption shall haue put on incorruption We shall stand vp like fire and our words shall burne like a Lampe p Apoc. 19.1 euer singing and saying Hallelu-iah Saluation and glory and honour and power be to the Lord our God And thus by the foure Triplicities of precious stones in the wall of the Citie of new Ierusalem whose name Christ heere promiseth to write vpon them that ouercome are signified the foure heauenly indowments of the Elect namely the Glorification of the bodie the Sanctification of the Soule the Consummation of Charitie and the perfection of Iustice all which proceed from q Rom. 9.16 the free grace of God no desert or merit in our selues And thus much may be proued by the Comming downe of this holy Citie out of heauen from God And I will write vpon him my new Name In the Epistle of Christ to the Angel of the Church of Pergamus He promiseth to giue them that ouercome a r Apoc. 2.17 white stone and in that stone a new name written and here he saith that he will write vpon him that ouercommeth his owne new name In the first place hee alludeth vnto the custome of electing Magistrates by white and blacke stones shaddowing in that figuratiue speech the mysterie of our Election and the s Rom. 8.18 Bern. ser 2. in die Penticost Seale of Gods Spirit whereby wee both know and are assured of our Saluation In the second place he hath reference to an vse which was amongst the Gentiles of erecting Statues Pillars and Arches in honour of their Men of valour and Conquerours vpon which were ingrauen their worthy Exploits Hereby declaring the great glory that shall be bestowed vpon such as perseuere in righteousnesse defend the truth and subdue feare t Phil. 2.8.9 Our Sauiour saith Saint Paul because hee humbled himselfe and became obedient vnto the death euen the death of the Crosse is highly exalted by GOD and hath a name giuen him aboue euery name Hereby is signified that God the Father hath giuen vnto him u Dan. 7.14 Dominion and Honour and a Kingdome that all people Nations and Languages should serue him This Honourable and Glorious name will Christ write vpon his seruants setting them at his right hand in the heauenly places farre aboue all Principalitie and Power and might and Domination and euery name that is named in this World Shall then such as be constant and courageous be made Pillars in Gods house hauing written vpon them the Name of God the Name of new Ierusalem and Christs new Name titles aeternall and truely noble O then who would not by their godly life shew themselues to be ambitious of this glorie What a huge tower did Nimrod build to get him a name Themistocles vsed to walke vp and downe solitarily in the night and one asking him the cause hee answered The Trophies and fame of Milciades awake me Let then the glorious memorie of Dauid Ioâ—sh Ezechiah and Iosiah stirre vp all earthly Arch-angels to walke before God with vp-right hearts Let the fame of Augustine Ambrose Basile Athanasius and the rest of the ancient learned Bishops moue all our Cherubims and Seraphims terrestriall to be industrious and painefull in Gods haruest And lastly let the Example of S. Paul who was neuer idle in his Ministerie being as Ierom stiles him Hier ad Pammach Vas electionis tuba Euangelij rugitus Leonis nostri flumen eloquentia Christianae A chosen vessel the trumpet of the Gospel the roaring of our Lion and streame of Christian eloquence be a motiue to perswade all Ministering Angels in
Body can be but in a place Seeing then that the Resurrection shall be both of Body and Soule as well for the Reprobate as the Elect and that the one sort of them must enter into a b Matth. 25.34 Kingdome prepared for them from the foundations of the world and the other c Matth. 25.41 into eternall fire which is prepared for the Deuill and his angels must not both the Sheepe and the Goates be in two distinct seuerall and reall places it cannot be gaine-said but what places be these Some thinke that the Fruition and the Want of Gods presence and Glorie is that Kingdom and this Fire if it were so why should there be any generall Iudgement for in this Life the Elect enjoy Gods gracious aspect which is Heauen vpon Earth and the Reprobates are depriued of it which is a kinde of Hell This I confesse is a heauen and a hell for the Soule but take away that Place which is called Coelum Coelorum the heauuen of heauens and that Dungeon which is named Tenebrae exteriores vtter Darknesse and how shall the bodies of the Righteous d Dan. 12.3 shine as the brightnesse of the Firmament and the bodies of the wicked rise againe to perpetuall shame and contempt My conclusion then is this As God hath ordained some to be Vessels of honour some of dishonour so hath hee prepared two seuerall places for them heauen and hell the one aboue the other beneath betwixt which there is a e Luke 16.26 great gulfe so that they which would goe from heauen to hell cannot neyther can they come from hell to heauen That there shall be a Corporall Ascension and Descension into two distinct places Eliah and Corah are two figures f 2 Reg. 2.11 Eliah went vp by a whirle-wind into heauen carried in a fiery Chariot drawne by horses of fire and g Num. 16.33 Corah and his companie went aliue into hell neyther of these dyed but were changed h 1 Cor. 15.52 as the liuing shall be at the last day in a moment and in the twinckling of an eye and their bodies being corruptible did put on Incorruption sharing betwixt them Life and Death eternall both in body and Soule and all this was done to teach vs what shal become of our soules and bodyes at the generall resurrection and to informe vs that as there is a Place aboue Heauen for the Elect so there is a Place beneath hell for the Reprobates Here shall Dogges endure paines most bitter and eternall namely a fire vnquenchable and a worme that shall neuer cease gnawing of this Fire the Body shall be the Fewell and to this Worme the Soule shall be food Seeing then that there shall be a Separation a within and a without and that there is a heauen and a hell Ioy eternall and Torment euerlasting O let vs continually meditate vpon this Lake burning with fire and brimstone the thought whereof if all sparkes of grace be not quencht in our hearts will be like a Bridle to curbe vs and keepe vs from sinning Our Sauiour to disswade vs from back-sliding bids vs Remember Lots wife the Wise-man saith Remember thine end and thou shalt neuer doe amisse and so say I Remember Hell this Memento is like a Iewell made of Iacinthes to which the Lapidaries attribute three excellent effects namely to preserue a man from lightning from the Pestilence and to procure sleepe such like is the Remembrance of hell in that it is an Antidote against the poyson of sinne it saues the soule from that furnace of fire where there is nothing but weeping and gnashing of teeth and preserues it from those vnspeakeable plagues and torments which God hath prepared for the Diuell and his Angels lastly because hee that euer thinkes of Hell will be afraid to commit sinne this Memento doth disburden the Conscience of all internall horrour and Anguish which like Saules euill Spirit doe euer haunt the guiltie minde and consequently procureth spirituall peace and Rest to the Soule This Peace hee giue vs who is the Prince of Peace Christ Iesus the righteous to whom with the Father and the holy Spirit be all honour prayse power glory and dominion both now and euer Amen FINIS ERRATA For 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For Arians read Acrians For Mâ—cedâ—nius read Macedenious For Seliâ—â—â— read Silenâ—e