by the 23. Psalme on this manner When the great shepeheard of our soules our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ shall haue fed vs well in the greene pastures of his word when we haue druncke well of his sweete waters the graces of his spirit when by his word and spirit hee hath couerted our soules when hee hath well trayned and schooled vs in the pathes of holinesse and true righteousnesse then beegin wee to make this comfortable conclusion of faith in our hearts The Lord Iesus Christ is my true Sauiour and shepeheard of my soule 3. Conclusions of faith against 3. kindes of feares commō to all the faithfull 1. Feare of wants 2. Feare of death 3. Feare and doubt of election and perseuerance Psal 15.1 And out of this argument wee conclude three other conclusions of Faith first I am well assured I shall neuer want any thing that is good for my body and soule Secondly I shall not feare that is bee oppressed with feare in the valley of the shadow of death euen when death it selfe approcheth Thirdly against all doubts of election and grace of perseuerance Doubtlesse kindnesse and mercie shall follow me for euer that is I shall liue in Gods fauour and Church on earth for a time and in heauen for euer Thus by degrees wee grow vnto that comfortable assurance of Faith and to that sweet * Rom. 5.1.2 reioycing in hope of the glory of God And yet when a man is come to this ripenesse and perfection of faith this man otherwhiles may bee so weake in the apprehension of Gods mercie and in the assurance of the pardon of sinnes specially if either hee hath liued in grose sinnes before his conuersion or hath fallen to anie one after grace receiued that albeit grace and peace bee offred most comfortably both by the outward ministrie of the word and the inward working of the spirit vnto the conscience yet the assurance of grace and the spirit of adoption seales not the pardon till a man bee well humbled and hath renued his repentance albeit the Lord long before hath past the graunt of the pardon of those sinnes vnto him Dauids example cleeres this vnto vs The Lord pardons his grieuous sinnes of Adultrie and Murther this is published by the Prophet and put as it were into his hand and heart yet hee is not comforted in the assurance of the pardon nor receiues the blessed seale of adoption before he had long exercised and humbled his heart in repentance Confer 2. Sam. 12.13 with the 51. Psalme Quest 11. What are those things which a Christian must of necessitie beleeue and in beleeuing professe and confesse in the visible Church of God before his people and before his enemies men and Angels Ans To beleeue with the heart brings a man to the assurance of righteousnesse Rom. 10.10 and to professe with the mouth is the way to saluation Wee are to beleeue all and euerie word of God specially the promises of the Gospell which are vnto vs as the legacies of the last will of Iesus Christ and when we shall haue knowne and beleeued them wee must for our further confirmation and that wee may be discerned from all Atheists and vnbeleeuers learne to make true confession of the faith we hold in that forme we haue most excellently set downe in the Creede commonly called the Apostolicall Symbole or the Apostles Creed Quest 12. Tell me how many Creeds be there and which is the best and what they containe Ans There haue beene many formes set downe since the Apostles time and yet all of one and the same in substance And they may well bee referred to three kindes First generall Creedes receiued with the authoritie and the generall consent of the Catholick Church as the Apostolicall and * Nicene Creede Secondly particular Ruff. 1. ch 5. Creedes either nationall or of particular Churches as of the Church of England France Scotland Thirdly proper Creeds as that of Athanasius and that of Constantine to the king of Persia or of any one man and these we may call the confessions of priuate men The Apostolicall Creed is most worthy most ancient most Catholike and of greatest authoritie commonly called the Symbole of the Apostles Symbolum Apostolorum a Simbole because it is a speciall note to discerne Christians from vnbeleeuers Apostolicall because it was gathered out of the writings of the Apostles and is most consonant with all the holy Scriptures and all other Creedes are but an exposition and enlargement for the better cleering of this This Creed was deliuered in this forme because the conuerts in elder ages which came to professe Christ in their Baptisme were to make answere before the congregation to this question How dost thou beleeue or what beleeuest thou The answere hee made was according to the forme of the Creed I beleeue in God c. This Creede sets beefore in a short view to helpe our memories all whatsoeuer wee are principally to hold and beeleeue concerning saluation And these points here set downe be so necessarie and so linked together that if ye denie any one yee deny all if yee renounce any one yee can not bee saued Againe they are commonly diuided into twelue Articles or branches which for our better edification may be set downe in this forme as followeth 1 I beleeue in God the Father almightie maker of heauen and earth 2 I beleeue in Iesus Christ his onelie Sonne our Lord. 3 I beleeue that Iesus Christ was conceiued by the holie Ghost borne of the Virgin Mary 4 I beleeue that Iesus Christ suffered vnder Pontius Pilat was crucified dead and buried descended into hell 5 I beleeue that Iesus Christ rose againe the third day from the dead 6 I beleeue that Iesus Christ ascended into heauen and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almightie 7 I beleeue that Iesus Christ shall come from thence to iudge the quick and the dead 8 I beleeue in the holie Ghost 9 I beleeue the holie Catholike Church the communion of Saints 10 I beleeue the forgiuenesse of sinnes 11 I beleeue the resurrection of the flesh 12 I beleeue the life euerlasting Amen Quest 13 What are the speciall parts of this Creed Ans This Confession of the Faith hath two principall parts First the confession of our Faith concerning God first the Father Act. 1. secondly the Sonne 2.3.4.5.6.7 thirdly the holy Ghost Act. 8. Secondly the confession of our faith concerning the Church that first it is Catholike Act. 9. Secondly it hath the communion of Saints Act. 9. Thirdly it hath remission of sinnes Act. 10. Fourthly that it shall haue a holy resurrection Act. 11. Fifty that it shall haue euerlasting life and glory Act. 12. Quest 14. First what beeleeue and professe you in this Creed and according to this Creed concerning God Ans I professe and say in this Creede that I beleeue in God the Father I beleeue in God the Sonne and I beleeue
endeauouring to hold fast faith and a good conscience and to testifie the same by their obedience to the Gospell and loue to their brethren 1. Tim. 6.12 1. Iohn 3.14.15 2. Distinction Seauenthly the godly brethren are eyther weake or strong 3. Distinction Eightly the weake brethren are eyther weake in knowledge and of weake gifts as nouices in religion and in the faith Rom. 14.1 or weake and tender in conscience hauing some wound of the spirit Prou. 18.15 The weake brother which is but young in the faith of Christ hee is saide to bee vnexpert in the word of righteousnesse Heb. 5.12.13 and must bee admonished with all wisedome and loue euer adding instruction with reproofe that hee may grow vp in the first grounds of religion The tender hearted weake conscience and wounded spirit is very heedefully to bee reproued that wee may wisely supple and cure his heart which is sore broken and faintie Es 57.15.20 Prou. 18.14.15 What the strong man is The strong man is hee which hath attained the assurance of faith Rom. 4.20.21 the assurance of vnderstanding Col. 2.2 2. Pet. 1.12 the assurance of hope Heb. 6.12 and being expert in the word of righteousnesse hath his wits exercised to discerne good and euill Heb. 5.13.14 And thus Saint Iude warneth vs respectiuely and with iudgement to regard strong and weake that beeing able to discerne beetweene the falls and offences of both wee may learne to speake a word in due season fitting the person time and place that so our admonition may be like an apple of gold with pictures of siluer Pro. 25.11 False brethren 4. Distinction Ninthly false brethren are all such in the Church as make a false profession of the gospell And these are of two sorts first secret and close hypocrites secondly open and manifest Hypocrites are all such as goe farre with vs in the profession of the Gospell but their hearts beeing vnsound and full of hardnesse and vnbeleefe they are vnfaithfull to Christ and his word euer knowne to God and in Gods appointed time manifested to men and Angels 1. Tim. 5.24.25 Open and manifest false brethren are all such as by their words and deeds testifie they doe not beleeue nor obay the Gospell 5. Distinction and yet in Baptisme haue made a solemne profession of both And these are of two sorts either vtterly blinde or inlighted with some knowledge Of the first kinde is the blinde multitude spoken of in the parable of the sower Mat. 13. Mar. 4. Luke 8. likened to the high way All these must bee admonished often and taught of all good christians with a tender commiseration of their miserable blindnesse as Christ with bowels of compassion Mat. 9.36 Againe this first kinde so vtterly blinde in the Gospell 6. Distinction either are those whom the Scripture calls by the name of sinners Mat. 9.10 Psal 1.1 dead in trespasses Eph. 2.1 or worse the proud * Iust before men impious before God iustitiarios which are further from heauen Mat. 9.13 both these in the parable are to be referred to the high way as beeing altogether blinde in the Gospell and both must bee admonished albeit an admonition is more hardly fastned on the one then on the other Of sinnes there bee two sorts first some lesse hardned 7. Distinction and may bee the sooner reclaimed Secondly some more hardned as the scorner The scorner is hee which scornes the sacred Scriptures the profession of faith and Godlinesse and makes a mock of sinne c. Psal 1.1 The scorner which is most hardned in heart against God and his word is either proud malicious and impudent as a dogge Psal 21.59 Prou. 26. Es 56. as the heretikes or filthy and vncleane as the swine in sinne as all they be which the Apostle describes to bee giuen ouer to wantonnesse to worke vncleannesse with greedinesse Eph. 4.19 Of these sinners these speciall rules are giuen vs. Prou. 9.7.8 He that reprooueth a scorner purchaseth to himselfe shame and hee that rebuketh the wicked getteth himselfe a blot rebuke not a scorner least hee hate thee but rebuke a wise man and hee will loue thee Mat. 7.6 Giue yee not that which is holy vnto dogs neither cast yee your pearles beefore swine least they tread them vnder their feete and turning againe all to rent you 1. Iohn 5.16 There is a sinne vnto death I say not that thou shouldest pray for it Athanasius to Marcion in Rome as he past by him in the street demanding an non nosti me Athanasi receiued this answer Noui te primo genitum Diaboli 1. Rule Tit. 3.10.11 Reiect him that is an heretike after once or twise admonition knowing that he that is such is peruerted and sinneth being damned of his owne selfe Quest 98. Thus farre of the persons admonishing and admonished now what bee wee to obserue in the forme of an admonition Ans First that all Christian admonitions must proceed from faith and loue and be performed with iudgement considerately Heb. 10.24 consider one another and prouoke vnto loue and good workes The Godly must bee reproued with all meekenesse of spirit as Abraham doth Lot Gen. 13.8 Let there bee no strife I pray thee betweene thee and mee neither betweene thy heardmen and mine for wee be brethren yet if the matter so require sometime more roundly and effectually as Gal. 2.11 The Apostle Paul did Peter I withstood him to his face 2. Rule for admonition Secondly wee may not reproue vpon vncertaine reports without sure grounds and good euidence to conuince our brother iustly for his offence Dauid herein offended in condemning so rashly good Mephibosheth 2 Sam. 19.25 3. Rule for admonition Thirdly inferiours may not reproue their superiours without speciall regard of time and place and all circumstances but most consideratly with all submission and reuerence due vnto them as young Elihu doth the ancient and graue friends of Iob. Chap. 32.6.10 And such an admonition no Christian superiour is to despise Iob. 31.13.14 and as Namans seruants admonished him 1. King 5.13 father if the Prophet c. 4. Rule Fourthly consider well whether the offence be directly against thy selfe or against another or immediately against God for if our admonition proceede from any priuate reuenge it can not haue a blessing from God nor bee effectuall for the good of our brother 5. Rule Fiftly this dutie cannot bee performed effectually but by skilfull righteous and knowen brethren for that admonition is a binding searching curing and restoring of a member or part of the body loosed and fallen from his right place and as a searching for a mote in a tender eye Gal. 6.1 Psal 141.5 Mat. 7. Sixtly the time must bee heedefully regarded 6. Rule reproue not a dronken man in his dronkennesse nor angry man in his choler Prou. 25.11 a word spoken in his place is like an apple of gold with pictures of siluer Dauid
thy a Deu. 5.14 nor thine Oxe nor thine Asse neither any of thy cattel that thy man seruant and thy maid seruant may rest as well as thou maide nor they beast nor the stranger that is within thy gates for in sixe daies the Lord b Perfected 1. Scope made the heauen and the earth the sea and all that in them is and rested on the seauenth day therefore the Lord blessed the Saboth day and halowed it First the principall scope and end of this Law is that wee beeing dead to our owne affections and works should religiously addict and addresse our selues to seeke the kingdome of heauen and to attend Gods holy worship all the Sabâ—th day continuing in the publike and priuate exercises and meanes which God hath commanded in his word Secondly Order it is good for vs to obserue the order of Gods Commandements which is this The first Commandement sets before vs the substance of Gods worship the second the forme thereof The third the end The fourth teacheth vs the time when this seruice should be publikely and solemnly practised The former three Commandements set before vs those duties which wee owe and must performe dailie vnto God This last commandeth that publike forme of gods worship which must bee religiously kept in one day in the seauen vnto God Thirdly againe wee are to note generally concerning this Law that whereas our naturall corruption is so great an enemie to these most sacred lawes for this cause hath bound vs with speciall bands to the obedience and keeping of the three former Commandements In this fourth precept hee addeth more reasons as desiring yet more strongly to binde this inbred enemie of God within vs for that we resist and fight more against this Law then any of all the rest of Gods commandements and for that in the practise of this consisteth the obseruation of all the former and neglecting this we neglect all religion Ier. 17.12 27 Ezech 20.21 23.38 Nehe 9.14 This is cleare by Gods complaint often in the Prophets for hee saith that all his seruice is ouerthrowne for that his Sabothes are polluted and defiled How this Law differs from the rest Fourthly wee bee also to obserue here how this Law differs from all the rest first this Law hath a speciall note as a preface set before it in the word remember which is wanting in all the rest Secondly the rest be onely either negatiue or affirmatiue that is either bid or forbid but this Law doth expressely forbid the euill to bee committed and expressely command the seruice which God requireth Thirdly the rest of the Commandements doe but onely binde a man for him selfe to the obseruation of that which is commaunded but this law expresly chargeth vs with a care of our whole familie for the obseruation of the Saboth and not onely this but chargeth vs also that wee cause the stranger within our gates to worship God with vs yea all the beasts wee haue must rest this day with vs. Fiftly the fourth Law hath two parts First the precept where we may obserue a preface or a note of attention in the word remember and the charge it selfe containing these branches first that the Lord commandeth a Saboth that is one day in seauen for his people to rest in Exod. 20. ver 8. Secondly that the Lord commandeth this day to be sanctified and consecrate for holy exercises where wee must consider what workes doe sanctifie and profane the Saboth Thirdly how this sanctified Saboth or holy rest must be on the seaueth day and none other Fourthly who is to performe this rest with vs all and euery one in the familie these specialls are numbred man as parents and mistrisses man and wife children sonnes and daughters seruants and strangers men and maides and beasts the Oxe and the Asse Secondly the confirmation hath these foure reasons first for that I permit and graunt thee sixe dayes for thine owne works Exod. 20. ver 9. Secondly for that the seauenth day is the Lords owne day commaunded and consecrate by himselfe for himselfe and his owne seruice ver 10. Thirdly for that God rested the seauenth day Fourthlie for that God hath promised a speciall blessing to all true worshippers in the sanctification of it * A note of attention Luke 17.32 Deut. 8.2 32.7 and Adde this word to euery part of this law to stir vp thy selfe aduisedly to consider the charge Remember The meaning is consider well The Sense and prepare thy selfe and obserue well the Saboth to sanctifie it Deut. 5.12 The Saboth That is the day of rest which is said in the tenth verse to bee the seauenth day It is called the rest beecause of the rest which is proper to this day In the beeginning this name was appropriate onely to the seauenth day but vnder the Law many other Saboths are commanded To sanctifie it To sanctifie is to separate any thing from the common vse to consecrate the same to Gods seruice Sixe dayes shalt thou labour That is I freely permit thee to worke sixe daies in thine ordinarie vocation that thou maist attend my holy worship the seauenth daie as I haue commanded And doe all thy worke That is leaue no part to be finished on the Saboth day But the Seauenth day is the Saboth That is Verse 10. this is the onelie day wherein I command that holie rest to be obserud Of the Lord thy God Or vnto the Lord thy God or for the Lord thy God that is to be spent wholie and religiously in the seruice of the Lord thy God or the day which he challengeth to be wholy spent in his seruice In it thou shalt not do any worke The Saboth day thou maist not do any of thine ordinarie works in seed time nor in haruest Exod. 34.21 Thou maister father or gouernour of house and family or of any societie Nor thy Sonne c. All men and cattell which we haue at our command and vse as being in subiection vnto vs. Nor thy stranger Iew borne or Proselite Within thy gates within thy charge For in six dayes the Lord made heauen That is Verse 11. the Lord rested after his worke and therefore so doe thou the Saboth day Therefore That is first that thou maist giue that to the Lord for his worship as beefore Secondly that thou maist not tire and weary thy selfe or any thing that is thine man or beast Exod. 23.12 Deut. 5.14 Thirdly that thou maist euer remember Gods rest in the creation Fourthly that thou maist neuer forget thy deliuerance from Egipt Deut. 5.15 The Lord blessed the Saboth day That is the Lord hath giuen this day a speciall blessing in that hee hath ordained it for his owne seruice and halowed it or sanctified it that is hath himselfe set this day apart for this holy vse so this word is vsed Exod. 29.44 and. 40.13 Leu. 27.30.28 Quest 103. Now proceed on to consider more neerely
sanctified others vnlesse hee were the most pure and the most holy one of God in himselfe Heb. 2.11 and Chap. 10.9.10 Thus then the Lord Iesus Christ our most blessed Redeemer hath taken to himselfe of the whole masse of mankind being wholy infected and poysoned with sinne hee tooke I say one portion thereof and did perfectly sanctifie it by the power of the holy Ghost and out of it deriues perfect holinesse and sanctification vpon all his elect by imputation of his merits for their iustification and by his holy Spirit working in them inherent righteousnesse and sanctification that so they may serue him for euer in this life and for euer Quest 31. Now proceed to the Articles following Hee suffred vnder Pontious Pilate was crucified dead and buried and descended into hell what thinke you of these first in generall Ans These words containe and set beefore vs all the degrees of his humiliation first in generall in these words he suffred vnder Pontius Pilate Next the manner how and the degrees of his humiliation and suffring are specified first hee was crucified secondly hee dyed thirdlie hee was buried fourthly he descended into hell First as concerning his suffrings in generall I beleeue hee wanted not passions all his life from the houre of his birth vnto his death and this that Euangelical Prophet foretold by the spirit of prophecie Es 53.2.3.4.5 He hath neither forme nor beautie when wee shall see him there shall be no forme that wee should desire him Hee is despised and reiected of men hee is a man full of sorrowes and hath experience of infirmities wee hid as it were our faces from him hee was despised and we esteemd him not Surely hee hath borne our infirmities and caried our sorrows yet wee did iudge him as plagued of God humbled but hee was wounded for our transgressions hee was broken for our iniquities the chasticement of our peace was vpon him and with his stripes wee are healed Hee suffred in all his life many sorrowes in his natiuitie and infancie nakednesse and pouertie as in the whole course of his life on the earth hee suffred Sathan to tempt him hee was a Mat. 4. hungrie hee was b Ioh. 4. thirstie hee was wearie hee suffred many indignities and reproches by the Iewes and Herod by the Scribes Pharises and Saduces for all the Iewish sectaries and Rabbines were set vp as by the Diuell to shoot their arrowes against him 1. Christ suffred in his humanitie And as touching his humiliation this holy person before described was humbled in respect of both natures for first his humanitie was subiect to the infirmities of nature as also to the miseries and punishments due to man for sin 2. How Christ may bee said to suffer in his deitie Secondly for his God-head albeit that can not bee changed yet was it hid as vnder a cloud all the time of his abode on earth without any great manifestation till hee was declared powerfully by his resurrection Rom 1 2.3.4 and ascention to be the onely begotten Sonne of God Here obserue for instruction and consolation There is such a relation betweene the head and the members and such an agreement that looke how it was with him so it must bee with all the faithfull first he suffred Luke 24.26 then hee entred into glory euen so must they doe wherefore first note it is a wretched case for a man to bee euer in ease as the rich man was Luke 16. and the other desired to bee Luke 12. neuer disquieted in body soule goods or good name for wee see by Christs example that through many tribulations must wee passe to heauen Here then must be a very speciall consolation for the Godly afflicted that they must bee crucified with Christ in earth before they can bee crowned with him in heauen Quest 32. Descend to this speciall Article Hee suffred vnder Pontius Pilate why doe you so beleeue what was this Iudge and what did he Ans First I so beleeue because the Lord hath so recorded by the Euangelists his passion Luke 23.14.15 Iohn 19.14 Now as touching this Iudge it is certaine that he was the Romaine Emperours * Luke 3.1 deputie for that Prouince in Iewrie where Christ was crucified Hee did proceed with Christ in forme of Law as men are handled in Courts of iustice for capitall crimes hee was cited or apprehended hee was arraigned before Pilates tribunall seate his indictment read and proued by false witnesses which were accepted for good after this Pilate gaue sentence of death and lastly execution was done accordingly Obiect But how came it to passe that the same Iudge should pronounce him innocent and yet condemne him as an euill doer Ans The first was done by Gods determitate councell that Gods Elect might euer see it that their Redeemer dyed not for his owne sinnes notwithstanding hee was condemned as an euill doer by the same eternall decree and counsell of God because hee was to beare the iniquities of the Elect and to make full satisfaction for the same Herein then this is the meditation I haue by Faith I do by faith beehold the Lord God himselfe exercising iudgement by the mouth of Pilate Iesus Christ is set himselfe beefore the tribunall seat of God here on earth loden with my sinnes ready to receiue the sentence of Gods iudgement and to beare the wrath of God due to me for my sinnes for hee put himselfe in our person as a wicked person before this tribunall seate and Pilate pronounced the sentence of God vpon him hee thinking nothing lesse for that sentence was ratified by God in * 2. Chro. 19.6 heauen For so the holy Ghost hath testified that nothing was done in all this arraignement God hath one purpose the instruments of his prouidence men and Angels haue an other attachment triall indictment and execution but by the Lords owne determinate counsell and from him as if all had beene acted before his owne tribunall seate of iustice Act. 2.23 So then Pilate Iudas and the rest of the Iewes were but instruments to serue for the execution of Gods eternall decrees and iustice Vse First this ought continually to smite a terrour into impenitent sinners for there is no escaping from the iudgement of God but by this arraignement of Christ Such therefore as receiue him not by faith in this life shall be sure to hold vp the hand at the terrible barre of Gods iudgement Secondly this arraignement to the beleeuer is the matter of all his consolation Gal. 6.14 for by this hee is freed from all those euils that daylie bee executed and shall bee for euer as from the iust iudgement of God vpon the wicked Quest 33. What speciall things be we to obserue in and before his arraignement Ans First his preparation vnto his death testified by all the a Iohn 13. Euangelists for when his time drew neere hee set his minde and heart to it and
but as hee is a terrible Iudge and to execute iustice on them Now to the faithfull Christ is said to be the first fruits of them that sleepe 1. Cor. 15.16 because as in the first fruites of corne being offred vnto God the owner had an assurance of Gods blessing on the rest so here by Christs resurrection the beleeuers haue a pledge of their owne resurrection Quest 44. Thus farre the first degree of his exaltation now let me heare of the second what doe you beleeue his ascention into heauen Ans That I doe for this is not onely prophecied of in the old Testament but also recorded and testified in the new Testament And therefore I know beleeue and professe this to bee the most sacred truth of God that Iesus Christ the very Sonne of the liuing God Act. 1.2.3 fortie dayes after his resurrection from the dead did ascend vp into heauen The prophecies in the old are these Psal 68.17.18.19 The Charets of God are twentie thousand thousand Angels c. Thou art gone vp on high thou hast lead captiuitie captiue The complement of this in the new Testament is Eph. 4.8 where the Apostle testifieth plainely that the Psalmist spake by the spirit of prophecie of Christs ascention and of his gracious blessings powred then as in a solemne triumph in anguration or coronation of a mightie prince vpon his Church and people Againe that Dauid prophecied not of himselfe in Ps 110. Saint Peter auoucheth speaking of the resurrection of Christ Act. 2.34 Dauid is not ascended into heauen but hee saith The Lord saith to my Lord sit at my right hand c. And Christ himselfe fore-sheweth his ascention into heauen Ioh. 16.28 I leaue the world c. Ioh. 14. And the holy Euangelists testifie with one accord that his words proued true for that hee did in verity ascend into heauen in his appointed time Mark 16.19 So after hee had spoken vnto them he was receiued into heauen Luke 24.51 And it came to passe as hee blessed them he departed from them and was carried into heauen Act. 1.9 while they beheld he was taken vp for a cloud tooke him vp out of their sight I doe therefore thus vnderstand this mistery in mind and beleeue it in mine heart and professe it with my mouth that the very same Christ who according to his diuine nature was alwayes in the heauens Iohn 1.3 after he finished the whole worke of our redemption on earth and instructed his Disciples fortie dayes as concerning the truth of his resurrection so concerning the propagation of the Church and publication or preaching of the Gospell for the building vp of his misticall body on earth after all this I say accomplished hee ascended vp to heauen in the presence of all his Disciples in that very body and soule wherein hee liued suffred and dyed on the Crosse and in that very body which was buried and rose againe in this body and soule I say Iesus Christ ascended vp into heauen where hee must haue his residence or bodily presence vntill the time of the restoring of all things Act. 3.21 And by Heauen here I vnderstand not the firmament as Gen. 1.1 ver nor the ayre Heb. 12.22.23 Mat. 18.10 1 Cor. 13.2 2. Cor. 12.2.3 Psal 103.19 Mat. 6.26 but the highest heauens where God and his Angels and the spirits of the righteous haue their rest Iohn 14.2.3 Phil. 1.23 Againe whereas the Euangelist Saint Luke saith Act. 1. 9. that he was taken vp the meaning is this was done principally by the mightie power of his godhead and partly by the supernaturall propertie of a glorified body which is to moue as well vpward as downeward without constraint or violence And thus Christ ascended into heauen really and actually and not in appearance onely And hee went also locally by changing his place and going from earth to heauen so as hee is no more on earth bodily as wee are now on earth at is afore shewed And whereas it may bee doubted if hee bee so departed from vs as touching his bodily presence how that may bee true that hee said hee would bee with vs vnto the end of the world Mat. 28.20 The answere is hee said also that hee would leaue the world to goe to the father Iohn 16.28 Wherefore he must bee vnderstood to speake by a distinction True it is he was before Abraham Iohn 8.58 and so is hee with his Church to the worlds end according to his diuine nature in maiestie grace Eph. 4.8 vertue power and effectuall working of his holy spirit Iohn 17.11 and 14.16.17 and 16.13 but his bodily presence is in heauen Secondly if any doubt further whether the natures bee not thus seuered if where the one is the other is not alwaies I answere no for the diuinitie which cannot bee comprehended must of necessitie outreach and yet comprehend the humanitie and thereunto bee parsonally vnited It is not alwaies true that of two things conioyned where the one is there must bee the other also For the Sunne and his beams are both ioyned together yet they are not both in all places together For the body of the Sunne is seated and carried onely in his celestiall orbe in the heauens but his beames are here beneath on the earth In those holy phrases then we must remember that as diuines speake the properties of both natures must bee distinguished in Christ for in such places properties belonging to one nature are ascribed vnto the other because of the hypostaticall vnion of both natures in one person And thus far for the sence of the words of this Article where wee see breefly that Christs ascention is an exaltation or a receiuing vp of his humanitie to sit in the highest heauens till the glorious day of his appearance in iudgement Heb. 1.3 Quest 45. What vse is there of this faith and what comforts follow it Ans First when I doe thus beleeue the ascention of Christ I doe beleeue also all the effects thereof and all the holy adiuncts appertaining thereunto namely these two principall which the Apostle specially mentioneth Eph. 4.8 and 12.1 That when he ascended vp on high he lead captiuitie captiue By Captiuitie vnderstand a multitude of captiues as the Psalmist doth Psal 68. ver 19. that captiues here meant are the world the flesh sinne Sathan and death it selfe and whatsoeuer engins and confederates these had against Christ in his humiliation and his members all their dayes on earth He so triumphed ouer them all on his crosse Col. 1.12 but specially in his ascention that howsoeuer they may feare vs otherwhiles and scare vs to waken vs from securitie yet they shall neuer hurt vs for Christ hath taken away their sting 1. Cor. 15.55 and hath pinioned their hands behinde them as captiues and hath set vs free if wee will come vnto him when hee call vs by his Gospell Wherefore if wee refuse now his call our state is the more damnable A man
of their former liues mispent and to conclude what doth not the feare of hell worke vpon them surely my heart dreadeth my minde fayleth to thinke vpon to heare to see to consider their wringing of hands their knocking of breasts their cryes filling heauen and earth and hell and my tongue and pen cannot expresse it but must rest with the saying There is no peace to the wicked saith the Lord. Quest 49. Now proceede to the comforts which arise by the expectation of the last iudgement Ans First what can bee more comfortable to good men then to consider and remember that the Lord hath appointed a day to iudge the world in righteousnesse When a man looketh vpon the sorrows and labours of Iacob the enemies of Dauid the imprisonment and martyrdome of the Prophets the shamefull death of Christ and ten of his Apostles the present glory of Turke and Pope disgracing and diriding true religion with the ostentation of multitude contumacie riches outward and visible prosperitie and with the persecution and effusion of the Martyrs blood besides what clearing of the guiltie and acquiting of malefactors and punishment of the innocent that one example of Christ and Barabas is most demonstratiue Why was Ioseph imprisoned Naboth killed Esay sawen asunder Paul beheaded Ignatius torne in peeces by wilde beastes Bishop Cranmer Ridley Latimer Hooper Farrar master Bradford Philpot and that most blessed victorious and constant martyr of Christ Richard Atkins who suffred at Rome Anno. 1588. hauing first of all his tongue cut out of his mouth and his hands likewise cut off was set naked from the middle vpward vpon a horse and so carried to execution two men going beside him with burning torches scorching his sides and being carried by the lodging of the Duke of Parma hee looked out of his window and cryed to the torch-bearers burne him burne him put your torches to the heretikes sides and they poore persons desiring to forbeare such cruelty hee with the stumpes of his armes inclosed the torches and kept them fast to his sides enduring without note of impatiencie the burning and bleeding of mouth sides and armes altogether oh whose harts doth not melt to thinke vpon much more to see such a crueltie surely were it not for this day of iudgement the wicked were blessed and the Godly accursed but there is an appoynted time of Ioseph his deliuerance and the king shall send and deliuer him Then shall not Noah bee mocked Moses bee afraid of Pharao Aaron of the idolatrous Israelites then shall Naboath haue his vineyard euery murdered and martyred person haue his life and fame againe euery empouerished and oppressed man by wrong haue his goods restored euery rauished virgin haue her reputation repayred and euery one afflicted in body or minde see and feele the end of all calamitie oh Lord when shall wee come and appeare before thy presence Let the world wherein dwelleth no goodnesse take the wings of the morning and fly away Euen so Lord Iesus come quickely and let there be no more time Secondly the person that shall bee Iudge namely Christ which was dead and sitteth on the right hand of God against whom and for whose sake both the wicked rage and the Godly endure and therefore it is said hee shall come viz. in the clouds which was enterred in the earth the sorrowes of the graue cannot hold him no nor the heauens when the later day commeth but he maketh his clouds his charriots his messengers flames of fire burning vp the world and rideth vpon the wings of the wind and commeth with the voices of Archangels trumpets Surgite mortui omnes venite ad iudiciū Arise O yee dead and let all men come to iudgement Oh how happy shall it bee that day with them which haue serued and kissed the Sonne and that can say for thy sake haue wee beene killed all the day long How shall hee recompence them that haue fed him how shall hee pay them that by almes deedes and holy workes haue lent vnto him how shall hee honour them that haue honoured him how shall he reuiue and comfort them that haue dyed or mourned for him and to conclude how shall hee not giue them ten thousand times more then all their euils amounted vnto in this present world Well O Christ We beleeue with Athanasius that thou shalt come to be our Iudge we therefore pray thee helpe thy Seruants whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood Come Lord Iesus come quickely and make them to bee numbred with thy Saints in glory euerlasting Quest 50. But concerning the estate of the Elect after the last iudgement you must shew the place where they shall raigne the priuiledges and prerogatiues where withall they shall bee endowed and other circumstances of necessary moment that wee may conceiue the meaning of Saint Paul when hee sayth I suppose that all the afflictions of this life are not worthie the glory that shall bee reuealed Ans First of all the place wherein they shall liue after the later day is in the heauens aboue the firmament Sunne Moone and Starres and not on the earth as the fonde Millenaries haue vntruely conceiued and this may appeare by many testimonies of the holy Ghost Lu. 12.32 Feare not little flocke it is your Fathers will to giue you a kingdome Mat. 25.34 Come yee blessed of my Father receiue the kingdome prepared for you before the beginning of the world Iohn 3.4 Except a man bee borne of water and the holy Ghost hee cannot enter into the kingdome of God 1. Pet. 1.3 Blessed be God euen the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ which according to his abundant mercy hath beegotten vs againe to a liuely hope by the resurrection of Iesus Christ from the dead 4. To an inheritance immortall and vndefiled and that fadeth not away reserued in heauen for vs. Iohn 17.24 Father I will that those which thou hast giuen me bee with mee euen where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast giuen mee By all which and many more if it were needfull it is most cleere that they which shall be saued shall rest not vpon earth for that kingdome the Saints haue already and therefore neede no further promise thereof this also they haue among the wicked without any regeneration or new birth but that estate which they shall inherite after the later day cannot be attayned without a second birth The earth was not beefore the worlds beginning but the place kingdome and state which the Saints shall haue after iudgement shall be that wherein God was before the worlds creation and therefore an vncreated place and not the earth either that is or shall bee The inheritance whereunto wee are regenerated is immortall and layd vp in the heauens saith Saint Peter but is the earth now couered in the heauens and doth nothing appeare but a bare spectre phantasme and a shadow without any substance or if there be no earth nor world is there