waite for the pretious fruite of the earth and haue long patience vntill hee receiue the first and the latter raine and shall not wee bee much more patient and settle our hearts seeing the comming of the LORD iâ— so neere Iam. 57 8. To this hope wee must annexe and adioyne an earnest desire and ardent prayer as for the accomplishment of other promises so specially for the second comming of our LORD and Sauiour IESVS CHRIST Hence it is that wee are tought to pray thy Kingdome come Mathew 6 10 to hasten vnto the day of the comming of GOD 2 Peter 3 12. to desire to bee cloathed with immortalitie yea to siâ—h for it 2. Coâ—inthi 5. 9 We must say come LORD IESVS come quicklie Apoc. 22. 19. 20. How long LORD IESVS how long Apoc. 6. 10. 11. Wee must with the creatures 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is carefully and desirously looke for Romans 8. 19. as hee that out of a prison grate or casement putteth forth his head to behold a farre off him that is expected Reasons in briefe to kindle and encrease this hope and desire of this solemnization and perâ—ect coniunction with Christ are especially foure First the example and feruent desire of the creatures who albeit they be sin-lesse yet because mans sinne hath corrupted them and doth continually peruert and abuse them they in their kinde feruently desire to bee freed from this bondage and to bee restored into the glorious libâ—rtie of Gods children much more wee that haue receiued the first fruites of the spirit must long and looke for a farre more glorious estate Roman 8. 19. 21. 22. 23. Secondly the infinite miseries troubles persecutions of the world and the vanitie ticklish and sickle estate and mortality of all things herein contained must stirre vp our hearts desire and expectation of full redemption and glorification Phil. 3. 20. Heb. 13. 13. 2. Cor. 4. 8. 9 17. Collos. 3. 1. 2. 3. to this purpose doth the triumphant Church in heauen in a generall sort desire the end of the world that the Lord may iudge and auenge their bloud that was shed vpon the earth Apoc. 6. vers 10. A third reason and that more principall is that an end may bee put to all sinne and wee may haue perfect victorie ouer it yea and treade downe Satan vnder our feete for then we shall be deliuered froÌ„ all the relicks stumps rootâ—s and remainders of sinne 1. Cor. 15. 55. 56. Rom. 16. 20. Apoc. 3. 4. and 19. 8. Whereas in this mortalitie wee dayly and euery moment sinne against and offend our GOD breake all his commandements and prouoke his anger and pull downe many iudgements vpon vs. Rom. 7. 17. 18. 19. and 23 24. Gala. 5. 17. yea all our obedience and our best actions are tainted with sinne and so vnperfect Isa. 63. Tit. 3. 5. 1. Cor. 13. 10. 11 Lastly the fruition and enioyment of Christ his glorious presence and perfect fellowship must be a forcible and effectuall meanes to confirme our hope enflame our desire Phil. 1. 23. Hebr. 11. 25. 27. for here is the banquet that neuer endeth the mariage that lasteth for euer the triumph that is perpetuall the absence and remouall of all euill and the presence and possession of all good but hereof wee must speake more at large in the third generall section Here by this doctrine are condemned all Sadduces Atheâ—sts Nulli-fidians and Scorners of Christs comming who because they walke by sense and not by faith by reason and not by Scripture and follow their owne lusts and will not bee ruled by the line of Gods word deny and deride the doctrine of the resurrection Christs second comming heauen and hell as 2. Pet. 3. 3. 4. 2. Tim. 2. 17. 18. Secondly here are reproued and conuinced all Epicures Libertines loose-liuers and all worldlings and voluptuous persons who albeit they in worde deny not any Article of faith as the former did and doe yet they denie the power of all religion in their hearts and so liue as though there were neither God nor diuell heauen or hell louing riches more then religion and pleasures more then pietie 2. Timot. 3. 45. Vse 3. Thirdly wee shall by obseruing and noting the measure quantitie of our hope and desire of Christs comming c. iudge of and discerne the quantitie of our faith for these being necessary effects of faith if they be great and liuely so is our faith and if they bee weake or dead so is our faith for the tree is knowne by the fruites and the cause by the vndoubted and proper effects of it And thus much of preparation and the principall parts of it Now we are to come to treat of the speciall opportunitie and time when both this generall and particuler preparation is to be made that is onely the present time and this present life whiles the day the light and the truth lasteth and while the meanes and ministery of grace reconciliation and saluation are offered and continue Titus 2. 10. Gal. 6. 10. Ioh. 9. 4. Ioh. 12. 35. 36. 2. Cor. 61. before our hearts be hardened with the long custome of sinne and so they become vncurable Hebr. 3. 13. Acts. 28. 27. whilest Câ—rist knocketh at the doore of our hearts 3. 20. before the night commeth Iohn 9. 4. and the doore bee shut Luke 13. 25. for in the graue in death and hell noe praysing of GOD and no time of repentance and reconciliation as Isay. 38. Luke 16. 24. 25. the Bride must trimme her selfe in this life Apo. 19 7. Now must the wedding garment bee prouided Math. 22. 11. this life is the time of grace for the ministerie of reconeiliation is onely here 2. Cor. 5. 18. 1. Cor. 15. 24. and 28. Ephes. 4. 11. 12. 13. for at the daye of iudgement it shall wholy cease Lastly Christ forgiueth sinnes onely in earth Luk. 5. 24. and the Apostles and so the ministers of the word in al ages succeeding them binde and loose retaine and remit sinnes in earth Math. 16. 19. Iohn 20. 23. wherefore we must seeke the Lord â—hiles he may be found and in the sixe dayes of this life prouide vs of the heauenly Manna that wee may keepe with him an euerlasting Sabboth in the highest heauens Here is ouer-throwne that vile and damnâ—ble doctrine of the Popish purgatorie who imagine and teach that the soules of many are temporallye tormented in Purgatorie flames and that they may bee eased and released of their torments by the prayers and intercessions and satisfactions of the liuing and specially by the pardons of the beast I meane not Nebuchadnezar transformed for seauen yeares into a beast but the Pope eternized for one whereas first this late coyned doctâ—ine is iniurious and derogatorie to Christ his all-sufficient satisfaction who dyed onely once to put away sinne Heb. 9. 26. Hebr. 7. 25. and in all places of scripture merite satisfaction and redemption is onely ascribed to his bloud
shall found forth this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or thankesgiuing and they cried saying saluation commeth of our God that sitteth vpon the throne and the lambe and they shall fall before the throne on their faces and worship God saying Amen praise and glory and wisdome and thankes and honour and power and might be vnto our God for euermore Amen Finally their voice shal be like the voice of great â—aters and as the vyoce of strong thunder saying halleluia our Lord GOD all mighty hath raigned Apoc. 19. 6. more-heareof 〈◊〉 may read Isai. 66. 22. Apo. 21. 3. Apoc. 11. 17. but this Sabboth shal be without peculier Preist for all shal be preists vnto God it shal be without Temple or Ceremonies for God and the Lambe are the Temple of it and shall supply these occasious Wherefore seeing that there is an eternall rest in Heauen and that our Sabboth which according to Christ his institution the Apostles practise the custome of the vinuersal Church we keepe the first day of the weeke in memory and honour of Christs resurrection is a tipe and representation of it it must reach vs to obserue it both incorruptly touching the out-ward forme and spiritually touching the the inward disposition of our mindes and hearts or els we shall neuer keepe it in heauen for God will neuer honour vs in Heauen Luke 9. 26. vnles we honour him in earth and neuer perfect vs in heauen vnlesse by the workes of sanctification wee begin it heare Apoc. 20. 6. 7. The second priuiledge and prerogatiue is the actuall and eternall inheritance and possessing of the new heauen and the new earth part of the dowry ioynter of the Saints 1. Pet. 1. 4. Apo. 5. 10. 2. Pet. 3. 13. Rom. 8. 21. 22. Math. 5. Now whether they shall sometimes by locall motion and bodily presence albeit some new and learned writers out of the. Apoc. 5. 10. and Apo. 21. 8. 2. Pet. 3. 13. before named and from the nature of a glorified body that can both ascend and discend at his pleasure doe collect and would conclud it or which is more probable and likely by vision and heauenly contemplation and noe absurdite for if Saint Steuen being on earth and hauing noe doubt his eyes for the present clarified looked vp into Heauen and saw Christ sitting on the right hand of God Act. 7. ver 56. why may not a glorified body by his glorified eyes and the aire and skye being also purified looke downe from Heauen and contemplate the Earth c. But because this poynt is difficult and the knowledg of it is rather coniecturall then certaine wee must bee content to bee ignorant of it vntell the day when all secrets shal be made manifest and let vs in the meane time make some vse of the point as most may concerne vs Here is matter of consolatioÌ„ for poore Christians that either neuer actually possessed any worldly goods lands or liuings as Lazarus and others or haue beene with the religious Hebrewes by the enimies of the truth dispoiled and depriued of them Heb. 10. 34. or els by the men of the earth whose portion is as it is to be feared in most or many of them only in this life and that enclose and hedge in al to themselues and their proper vses vnmercifully turning men out of home house and liuing well let them possesse their soules in patience and in faith and hope apprehend and waite for it for they shall one day inherite the new Heauen and the new Earth they shall haue roome enough and larg demaines when their enimies repining at it shall remaine foreuer excluded and excomunicated from them and it The third preuiledge is that the Godly then compleatly and perfectly and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shal be all kings preists Prophets Apoc. 5. 10. and so partake of Christ his dignity and offices As Kings they shall raigne with Christ and triumph ouer Satan and all the wicked yea and treade them vnder their feete Rom 6. 20. Mal. 4. 3. As Preists they shall eternally praise God and the Lambe for the redemption of his people c. and perfectly obey his will Apoc. 22. 3. And as Prophets they shal as far forth as is possible for a finite and circumscriptible creature knowe GOD and see him and exquisitely vnderstand all things that shall concerne their felicitie 1. Ioh. 3. 3. 2. Cor. 12. Vse Wherefore if euer wee looke and hope to be Kings Priests and Prophets in Heauen let vs as spiritually so conscionably practise these offices in earth for the practise of them in this life and in the life to come differ not in essence and substance but onely in place and degrees let vs then as Kings rule and raigne ouer â—ur affections and desires and gouerne our familyes like so many little Churches in the feare of GOD. Let vs as Priests consecrate our selues soules and bodies to Christ and his worship and seruice and pray continually to GOD in behalfe of our selues and our domestiques Lastly let vs as Prophets labour to bee rich in the knowledge and vnderstanding of Gods will and so to our vtmost power and skill impart it as occasion and our calling shall require vnto others especially to those of our owne family Gen. 18 ver 17. 18. The fourth priuiledge of the Saints in glory is their glorious and perpetuall triumph and perfect victory ouer sinne death hell satan and his angels and all the reprobate whatsoeuer Sinne and death and hell shal be a bolished and cease foreuer 1. Cor. 15. 55. 56. 57. in respect of the Godly bee destroied as Apoc. 20. 14. Antichrist and his members shall no more assaulte and persecute vs for the beast and the false Prophet shall be cast aliue into the lake of fire burning with brimstone Apoc. 19. 20. and all the members and worshippers of the beast shall drinke of the pure wrath and â—ee tormented in fire and brimstone before the Holy Angels and before the Lambe Apoc. 14. 10 11. they shall goe forth and looke vpon the Carcases of the men that haue transgressed Isa. 66. 24. Finally the Saints shall treade downe sathan and all their enemies vnder their feete Rom. 16. 20. and shall stand before the Throne and before the Lambe cloathed with long white robes Uiz. of purity and inocency and hauing palmes in signification of victory in their hands Apoc. 7. 9. Vse Wherefore the due consideration of this last prerogatiue as also of the former must kindle and worke in vs an earnest and continuall expectation and longing after our full and finall redemption and perfect glorification The dutifull wife should not so long and looke for the returne of her husband farre and long time absent the husbandman so hope and waite for the haruest the Mariner the hauen the wayfaring-man his iorneyes ende the woman in trauell her deliuerance the Captiue his liberty as wee should wish and waite for pray for and expect the time of
THE LAMBES SPOVSE Or The Heauenly Bride A theologicall discourse wherin the contract betwixt Christ and the Church the preparation against the mariage and the solemnization it selfe and the exclusion of hypocrites and temporizers is plainly and profitably with the particular vses set forth Wherevnto is annexed an exact preparatiue to the Lords Supper By T. D. Minister of the word of God Imprinted at London by G. Eld dwelling in Fleete lane at the signe of the Printers Presse 1608. To the Worshipfull company of Drapers in Couentry his very good benefactors peace and prosperitie IF wee duly and diligently as we ought men brethren fathers consider obserue Gods vnspeakeable mercy goodnesse towards our English nation not onely in the fruition and continuance of such vncomparable peace and prosperitie aboue other countries and king domes and in the exquisite and excellent knowledge of liberall Artes and the learned languages but also and that most eminently in the pure and publike preaching of Christ his blessed Gospell in so many places and parishes Wee cannot but iudge and acknowledge our selues to be highly beloued and admirably blessed of Almighty God But contrariwise if wee marke and take notice of the merueilous abuses of our peace and prosperitie the exceeding contempt of Artes and good learning and that which most aggrauateth our iudgement the generall neglect of piety and the horrible hypocrisie of many in the profession of sincere religion and withall call to remembrance the sundrie and fearefull if not ominous warnings and iudgements that God hath inflicted vpon vs in these few last yeares wee then haue iust cause to feare that God hath reserued vs to some more dangerous plagues and that hee will by degrees strip and depriue vs of all his mercies Wherefore least wee should take ouer-much offence at the prophanesse and hypocrisie of the mvltitude and hereby faile and shrinke in our holy courses and exercises of godlinesse or else should deceiue our owne soules because wee reteine an outward forme and profession of holinesse and because our outward tranquillitie happinesse yet continueth two points and conclusions must heedfully be considered of vs. First that the number of sincere Christians and vndissembling Gospellers is very rare they are in comparison of them that perish but a remnant a gleaning after the haruest or vintage a small flock one of a Tribe and two of a Citie The truth of this assertion most euidently appeareth in the time of any generall Apostacie and persecution 1. Reg. 19. 14. Apoc. 12. ver 5. and 6. and chapt 13. ver 7. and 8. and shall be made manifest to all the world at Christ his second comming when he shal scarcely finde sauing faith vpon the earth Luke 18. ver 7. 8. Therfore we may not define and measure the truth of religion by the esteeme and practise of the erring multitude but wee must make Gods word the onely rule and touchstone of our faith and life Secondly for the auoiding and preuenting of hypocrisie which maketh vs odious both to God and men wee must not so much in a curious humor desire to know strange mysteries as to know that which most concerneth vs and to make a good vse and apply of our knowledge Againe wee must in all our actions and profession of religion propound to our selues no sinister ends As for example wee must not intend gaine but godlinesse not credit amongst men onely but the glorie of God not policie but piety and not the aduancing of our outward state but the amendment of our liues and the saluation of our soules and hereby we shall notably and vnfallibly distinguish our selues from all hypocrites whatsoeuer Lastly we must with the woman in the Apocalips cloath our selues with the sunne of righteousnesse and tread the Moone that is all changeable and transitorie things vnder our feete and wee must with the wise Virgins whiles it is the time of grace and the day of saluation prouide our selues of the oyle of true saith get the garment of true holinesse and keepe it vndefiled and in hope and patience waite long and wish for the second comming of Christ when the mariage shall be eternally solemnized betweene the Bridegroome and vs in the highest heauens This doing we shall be happy and blessed here in hope and beginning and after this mortall life ended in act and perfection And because next vnto the sacred ministery of the word and the spirituall exercises of Christians the publishing of sound and elaborate treatises are a singular helpe and furtherance herevnto I in the mediocritie of my skill for the direction of those that be well disposed haue compiled and framed this small worke Moreouer because the argument of it so fitteth your affections being generally men of religion and conscience instrumeÌ„ts of good because your liberal kindnesse long continued beneficence hath bin so amply extended to me I doe most humbly and deuoutly dedicate it vnto you all most submissiuely beseeching you courteoussy to accept of it and to vse it for your edification and comfort In assured expectation whereof I here take my leaue The GOD of heauen and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ remember in goodnesse all your kindnesses shewed to his house and vnto so many of his seruants fill you with all wisedome and spirituall vnderstanding make you fruitefull in all good workes prosper you in this world and make you euerlastingly blessed in the world to come Amen Couentry Ianu. 1608. Your worships in all duty to command Thomas Drâx Venerabili Doctissimo viro Domino Hintono sacrae Theologiae Doctori Couentriae Archidiacono Michaelis ecclesiae pastori vigilantissimo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 CVm totum beneficentissimuÌ„ Maecenatum meorum ordinem iustissimis de causis compellare salutare ausus sim non committendum putaui vt te vir verè obseruande meum â—ingularem Patronum perueterem amicum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 praeterirem Malo igitur importunus quà m ingratus videri libelluli vestibulo licet menùs decorè aliquid adiicere quaém de officio meo tantillum imminuere Huc addatur etiam quòd argumenti vsus praestantia tua magna in ecclesia existimatio authoritas tui iudicii non tam exquisiti quà m candidi expectatio me alioqui â—b invitum ad te alloquâ—â—dum aâ—â—iciunt â— inuâ—tant Quocirca 〈◊〉 etiam digniâ—â—ti idque meritissimo has meas qualescunque comnâ—e tationes consecrodedicoque â—e ideo subiectissimè demisissimè â—ro vt eas in optimam partem interpreteris tuamque erga me beneuolentiâ—m retineas confirmes Sed de tuae propitiae voluntatis propensione nequaquam dubitans quia molestus esse nolim hâ—c sanè dicendi at te diligendi finem numquam facâ—o Christus opt Max pastorum princeps te quà m diutissimè valentem vigentem conserue◠〈◊〉 sacrum miâ—isterium prosperet tuam ecclesiasticam praefecturam dirigat teque tandem summa sancta
to his stripes to his sufferings both in soule immediatly and also in body ioyntly and apart c. Secondly he that beleeueth is saued and he that beleeueth not is coÌ„ndemned already viz. in the decree and by the word of God Iohn 3. 8. Thirdly who-so-euer repenteth not and beleeueth not dyeth in his sinnes and so vndoubtedly perisheth Iohn 8. 21. Ezechi 18 24. Luke 13. 3. 5. Fourthly the rich glutton making intercession to Abraham in behalfe of his fiue bretheren found no fauour but receiued a iust repulse reproofe Luke 16. 29. 31. Fiftly Dauid whiles the child borne in adultery liued prayed for his life but as soone as it was dead then hee ceased pâ—aying and fasting for it for hee knew it would not auayle 2. Sam. 12. verse 22. 23. Lastly the penitent theeâ—e that suffered with Christ and neuer had done good vpon his serious repentance and firme faith albeit wrought miraculously at the last houre had a promise made him to bee that same daye with CHRIST in Paradice Luke 23. 43. which Saint Paul enterpreteth to be the third heauen 2. Cor. 12. 3. 4. beeing compared together Now if any man had gone to purgatorie fire and should there be further pâ—rged and prepared no doubt he had beene one sed haec hactenus de questuosissima papistarum fabula Vse 2. Secondly seeing that there is no libertie and peace of conscience vntill men repent Prou. 18 14. and no actuall pardon and that the time to repent aâ—d prepare our selues is onely this life which is short momentary transitory and wherein the children dye as well as the ancient yong-men as well as the olde the strong and lustie as soone and as sodenly as the weake it must learne and schoole vs in no wise to deferre our repentance and time of preparing our selues but to begin betimes and to hold on to the last breath For first we are bound and commanded to serue God in spirit and trueth and that all the dayes of our life Luk. 1. 74. 75 ergo we must not put and post of all to old age not knowing whether we shall euer liue to it or not Secondly our iourney to heauen being long the preparation great and the time very short and vncertaine we must bee wise and redeeme it and repent when we may Thirdly we must with Salomon Iosias Timothy Ioseph and others serue God in the dayes of youth and in the floure of our age when our memory is most apt and firme our vnderstanding most sharpe our sences most liuely we may best lay the foundation of an holy and comfortable old age thus are we commanded and exhorted Eccles. 13 1. Psal. 119. 9. Psal. 78. 6. 7. and it is their greate commendation Tit. 1. 4. 2. Tim. 1. 5. 2. Epist. Ioh. 4. 1. Ioh. 2. 12. 13 14. Whereas otherwise they that neglect and omit to reconcile themselues vnto God in their best time in the daies of their child-hood and youth grow in time senceles and brutish and hard hearted and are iustly forsaken of God in their old and impotent age that had no care and conscience to feare obey and serue him in their youth Thirdly it is seldome and rarely seene that men that haue liued all their life and spent all their golden dayes as they call them in superstition sinne and vanity should vndoubtedly turne vnto God in their old age It is more wonderous then vsuall and there are onely some examples of it in Scriptures to keepe the aged from dispaire but they are very fewe and rare that we should not as most doe presume to much of it Lastly of all ages olde age if it bee not before rooted and grounded in fayth in loue and in the practise of Godlinesse is of all ages the most vnapt and vntoward to performe these duties to begin and lay the foundation of repentance and to make it ready for Christ. Wee may in this case in some sorte say Can a man bee new borne when he is old can he enter into his Mothers wombe againe and bee borne Iohn 3. 4. not being ignorant and misvnderstanding the doctrine of regeneration as Nicodemus but onely in another sense affirming that time to be the most vnfit And there is sufficient reason for it for in olde age the memory decayeth the strength fayleth the senses are infeebled and wast then are the euill daies of sorrow and labour of payne and aches then the daies and yeares approch when men shal say that they haue no pleasure in them Ecclesi 12 1 2. then sathan is most egar and busie knowing right well that then he must loose all or gaine all wherefore let vs with the wise Virgins prepare our selues whiles wee haue time let vs walke in the light whiles the light shineth and seeke the Lord whilst wee may finde him Isay 55. 6. 7. Which GOD grant A men The third Section Then they that were ready c. IN these wordes the solemnization and consumation of the mariage betwixt Christ and the wise Virgins or true Church is contrayned and it doth deuide it selfe into foure partes viz. First what this solemnization is Secondly the place where Thirdly the priuiâ—â—dges and prerogatiues of it Lastly the vse and application of it The soâ—emnization or consummation of the marriage is the glorious and perfect state of the elect after the resurrection when they in the highest Heaues shall with their eyes behold CHRIST haue fellowshippe and liue with him and raigne with him for euermore being perfectly conformable vnto him and to his will both in body and soule Phil. 1. 23. Mat. 25. 34. 1. Thess. 4. 17. Apo. 7. 15. 17. 21. 2. 3. 4. Iohn 17. 21. In this description two points are to be explained and expouÌ„ded first the dignity and comfort of this communion and coniunction with Christ in glory SecoÌ„dly the perfestion and glorification of the Bride and Virgin both in soule and body First touching the coniunction and marriage and the excellency of it the continuall sight company of Christ the Sonne of right cousnesse and fountaine of all felliciâ—â—e shall minister perpetuall and vnspeakeable ioy and comfort to all Gods Saints for they shal no more walke by faith as in this life but by sight they shall no more darkely behold GOD in the glasse and ministery of the wordeâ— or in the spectakle of the creatures but see him face to face they shall in the Imperiall and Maiesticaâ—l Court and Pallace of Heauen see God as he is 1. Ioh. 3 2. 1. Cor. 13 12 namely they shall so farre forth behold Gods Maiesty and the perfection of his glory as a finite creature albeit glorified is capable off they shall see him as hee is but not how infinite hee is 1. Timo. 6. 16. And as for Christ Iesus their redeemer husband and head they shall as Iob speaketh see him with these same and no other eyes Iob. 19. 25. 26. They shall follow him wheresoeuer hee
goeth Apoc. 14. 4 they shall see his face and his name shal be in their for-head Apoc. 22. 4. Finally the tabernacle of GOD shal be with them and hee will dwell with them and they shal be his people and GOD himselfe shal be their GOD with them Apoc. 22. 3. Now if the sight salutation and company of man and Wife Father and Children Kinsfolke and acquaintance friends and welwilâ—ers that are farre distant and haue beene long absent one from another bee so admirably gratefull and so wonderfully delightsome how much more desirable maruelous and vneffable will the continuall sight and fruition of GOD the Father Christ the Sonne our redeemer and the Holy Ghost our comforter bee vnto vs in the Parliament and Throne of Heauen And if Moyses that onely talked and had conference with GOD in the Mount but fortie dayes was so glorious in his face at his discent and returne that the Children of Israell could not or durst not behold it how much more vnspeakably Maiesticall and glorious shall they bee that haue fellowish not as sinners with GOD on earth for a fewe dayes but as perfectly sanctified in the Pallace of Heauen for euermore Herevnto in the second place I may well adioyne the mutuall ioyfull and vnutterable communion with all Angells Archangels Patriarks Prophets Fathers Apostles Euangelists Confessors Martirs and all the true Saintes of GOD of all degrees for euermore who by how many degrees and in how many properties especially in knowledge in Holinesse and loue they exceede and excell all mortall creatures so much more rare and incredible comfort shal they by their mutuall fellowshippe communicate one to another They shall not be ignorant one of another nor strange and suspected one to another much lesse false and hollow as in this worlde partly by reason of ignorance partly by reason of hypocrisie and partly by reason of humane infirmities it commeth oftentimes to passe but they shal be all one in will and consent liuing and louing together in perfect harmony of concorde and charity Vse The consideration hereof must cause vs to shun decline and abhor ill and contagious company what in vs lyeth and to haue our hearts and mindes inflamed and possessed with a longing desire to bee dissolued in the time appointed and to enioy the most blessed fellowshippe of GOD of the Lambe and of all the Saints and Angels in glory for euermore The second partickle to bee made lightsome and vnfolded is the perfection of the glorified soule and the body Touching the soules iust and perfect men they now after their dissolution from the body are replenished with infinite ioye and triumph in the Heauenly Ierusalem Luke 16. 25. Hebre. 12 22 23. Math. 25. 21. 23. but their ioye shal be much more encreased when the soules shal be reunited to their bodies Phil. 3. 20. and when the whole number of GODS elect Saints are accomplished and come in Apoc. 6. 10. 11. Heere they shall in Quires and companies mutually and eternally magnifie and praise the Lord as afterwards I will more fully shew when I come to speake of the rest of their prerogatiues Secondly in the minde vnderstaÌ„ding their shal be no error ignorance dulnes but cleere iudgemeÌ„t perfect wisedome 1. Cor. 13. 12. for wee shall be in perfect light and the wisdome of GOD shall manifest it selfe vnto vs secondly in the will and affections there shall bee no extasie or distemper but perfect righteousnesse integritie perfect loue of God and his saints aâ—d Angels and absolute conformity to Gods will Lastly the body it shall be a bright glorious beautifull strong nimble perfect and inâ—orrupt instrument habitation and receptacle of the glorified soule It shall be so bright and glorious that it shall shine forth as the sunne and shall send forth beames of light Math. 13. 43. It shall rise a glorious bodie 1. Cor. 15. 43. It shall bee like to Christ his body ergo no doubt most glorious Phil 3. 20. Some glimpse taste and representation hereof wee haue in the transfiguration of Christ whose garment was white and glistâ—red Luke 9. 29. it was very white as snowe so white as no Fuller can make vpon the earth Marke 9. 3. In Moses and Elias that appeared to our Sauiour in glory Luke 9. 31. and in the sundry and glorious apparitions of Angels in the old and in the beginning of the new Testament It shall bee a strong body for it shall rise againe in power and not in weakenesse as 1. Cor. 15. 43. It shall be a nimble body as well able by the proper forme of it to ascend as to descend as may be collected out of 1. Thes 4. 17. Math. 22. 30. Phil. 3. 20. compared together It shall bee a beautifull and goodly body because it is and shall be a vessell of honour as Rom 9 33. Lastly it shall bee perfect and incorrupt because as there is no fault defect and deformitie in it so it shall be a spirituall body 1. Cor. 15. 44. spirituall not because the substance shall bee changed for glorification taketh nor away the trueth and demensions of a naturall body but because it needeth none of these outward and earthly supplyes and helpes of meate drinke apparell sleepe rest mariage Phisick light c. for Christ shall bee in steed of all these vnto it and supply all 1. Cor. 15. Vse 1. The first vse that ariseth from the consideration and meditation of the body and soule ioyntly glorified is a notable comfort for Gods children that for the time present liue obscurely and in great contempt in no regarde and reputation traduced and troubled in euery place for they shall see the Lord haue immediate fellowship with him and shall shine as the sunne in a cleare skie Vse 2. In any bodily defect weakenesse sicknesse ache paine vlcers deformitie lamenesse and maimednesse we are not to be discontent and offended but endure them patiently For first they are but fatherly corrections and trials Heb. 12. 7. and 8. Secondly they are but temporary Thirdly the dearest and holyest of Gods children are as well subiect to them and beare their portion in them as much as any yea much more then other Psal. 73. vers 5. 15. Lastly they shall be taken all away and eternall glory and perfection shall succeed in their place And thus much of the explanation and description of the mariage what it is The fourth Section THe priuiledges and prerogatiues of this mariage remaine to bee considered and they are principally foure first a perpetuall and solemne sabboth which the saints of God shall inuiolably obserue in singing the new song of their redemption Apoc. 14. 3. they with one voyce and heart shall singe and acknowledge that Christ hath redeemed them to God by his bloud out of euery kindered and tongue and people and nation Apoc. 5. 9. and hath made them vnto their God Kings and Priests and in the 7. chap. 10. 11. 12. they