in them which are effectually called reconciled he preserueth increaseth that same studie of holding their reconciliation and bringeth to passe that they greatly esteeme so great grace of reconciliation and truly somuch they esteeme it that denying them selues and all vngodlines they wholly giue themselues through faith vnto him who with so greate a price hath redeemed them from so many euills After that Christ the King and Priest of his Church hath engendred in those whom he calleth the studie of reconciling themselues vnto God he offereth and giueth also vnto them that same reconciliation that in the forme of a couenant the summe whereof is conteined in the articles of the faith NOw as I haue saide alreadie that same studie of reconciling themselues to God in those that are called of Christ the King being wrought he offereth and giueth to them reconciliation it selfe and that in the forme of a free couenaunt 2. Cor. 5. vers 18.19.20.21 and chap. 6. vers 15.16.17.18 Now the reconciliation of man with God or rather this matter of saluation in sauing by his merite and power the elect is therefore called a couenaunt and also set foorth vnto vs in forme of a couenaunt from God because there is no apter forme or meeter way of doing it to make mutuall agreement betweene the parties and to the establishing of faith For euen like as men after great enimities are then at length pacified in their mindes when they haue bounde themselues by promises and by an oath each one to other to imbrace peace so also God that our consciences might be quiet hath not spared of his meere goodnes euen by an oath and couenaunt to binde himselfe vnto vs that are repentant and beleeue in him and to seale the same with the seale of holy baptisme that he might adopt vs freely to be his children that he might cleanse vs through his bloode from all sinne and being endowed with the holy ghost might renue vs to euerlasting life yea and that freely that wee againe being bound vnto the faith and worship of this true God the sonne and the holy Ghost we might set foorth and aduance this greate goodnes of his Moreouer euen like as there are wonte to be propounded in mens couenaunts certaine heades which they call articles by which peace is begunne and put in practise both sides being sworne so also that same diuine couenaunt wherein God doth reconcile vs vnto himselfe for euer is conteined in certaine heades or articles which are the foundations of this holy reconciliation and where in God will haue eternall peace betweene him selfe and all beleeuers to be ratified Now God had promised by Ieremie the Prophet that he woulde strike a newe couenaunt with vs not according to that couenant which he had made with our fathers when he brought them out of the land of Egypt because they had made that couenant voyde but that this should be the couenant that he would giue the lawe in the middest of vs and write the same in our heartes and that he would be our God and we should be his pepple and that we should knowe him because he is mercifull vnto our sinnes and will remember our iniquities no more Ieremy 31 Esai 53.54 Ozee 2. This couenant the Lord hath made with vs through faith in Christ and therfore we must knowe that the articles of our faith containe the summe as it were the heads of that couenant which standeth in faith between God and vs. That the couenant betwene God and vs is free and vndeserued and standeth only in faith through which after that he hath put out the remembrance of our sinnes he renueth the beleeuers to his owne image THat this couenant betweene God and vs is free and vndeserued and leaneth vpon no condition of our worthinesse or merites but standeth by faith alone hence it may easily appeare For in respect of God he properly maketh the couenant with vs and he sealeth in our heartes by his holy spirit that same promise of vndeserued reconciliation offred vnto vs in the Gospel Titus 3. ver 5.6.7 2. Tim 1. ver 9. Gal. 3. ver 6.28.29 In respect of vâ— this couenant is receiued only by faith whiles that freely and vndeseruedly the holy Ghost is giuen vnto vs who bringeth to passe that both we will and are able to beleeue the free promise of reconciliation through Christ Eph 1. Ioel. 2. Esay 59. If you respect the mediator verely our heauenly father hath receiued oâ— him the price of reconciliation and we haue satisfied in him notwithstanding because the mediator is freely giuen vnto vs and imputeth also freely this merite vnto vs euen by this reason also the couenant is free And so this whole couenant is meerely free and consisteth in faith alone the oblation of promise of grace in Christ and also the giuing of Christ himselfe in respect of God is free the receiuing on our part is also free because it is the worke of God in vs whereby he sealeth his promise in our heartes that being driuen we should worke that is to say that being made beleeuers by him we might beleeue Ephe. 2. ver 1.5.6.7.8.9.10 All these things are plainlie comprehended in that same promise of the new couenant which euen now I brought out of the 31. Chapiter of Ieremy Now the ende why God would haue this same couenant to be free by all meanes is that the glory of God might returne to him alone the which drift of his counsell he hath expressed in plaine wordes in the same Prophet Chap. 33. And it shal be to me a name of ioy a prayse and an honour before all the nations of the earth which shall heare all the good that I doe vnto them c. And to the Ephe. Chap. 1 ver 5.6 An other end is the peace of our consciences Rom. Chap. 4. For if they which are of the lawe are heires faith is become voyd and the promise is made of none effect c. Sith therefore God saith that this whole couenant is free and vndeserued and that it consisteth in the knowledge of him or rather by faith through which also after that he hath abolished the remembraunce of our sinnes he will renewe our heartes which he calleth to write his lawes in our heartes it is plaine and euident that in the articles of our faith such a faith and knowledge of God is set forth vnto vs which embraceth the free remission of sinnes in Christ and also thereof engendreth the instauration or renewing of man according to the image of God Therefore in the meditation of the articles of our faith we must especially turne our eyes to these two poyntes The Articles of faith or that which is commonly called the Apostles Creede I Beleeue in God the father almighty maker of heauen and earth and in Iesus Christ his only sonne our Lord which was conceaued by the holy Ghost borne of the virgin Mary suffred vnder Pontius Pilate crucified
dead and buried he descended into hell the third day he rose againe from the dead he ascended into heauen and sitteth at the right hand of God the father almighty from thence he shall come to iudge the quick and the dead I beleeue in the holy Ghost the holy Catholique Church the Communion of Saintes the forgiuenes of sinnes the resurrection of the body and the life euerlasting What faith is SEing therefore Christ the king himselfe in the articles of the Christian faith which containe the summe of the Gospell offreth that same kingdome of his vnto vs and through faith by the vertue of his spirit doth effectually confederate himselfe vnto vs to the end he may raigne in vs goe to let vs briefly shewe what faith is Faith is to assent vnto God his will being knowen in euery worde of his as to the onely true omnipotent God and so to giue glory to God and not to consider any thing either in our selues or in any other of his creatures that seemeth to be against him and in this worde to behold as the speciall marke the promise of the Gospel for that the father truely offreth himselfe vnto vs in Christ and through his holy spirit freely iustifieth vs that are engrafted in Christ and more and more sanctifieth vs and preserueth vs by the same power through which Christ was raised from the dead whereby he hath all things subiect to himselfe that the hope of euerlasting life being founded in this truth and power it may be most certaine This description of faith first comprehendeth the whole life of man whose singular actions and moments must needes leane and rest vpon faith For surely that which is said to the Hebrues Without faith it is impossible to please God is most true in all and singular matters that are to be taken in hand Rom. 14. ver 23. Then after that it setteth forth that peculiar grace of iustification offred in Christ and that restoring to euerlasting life as the foundation of all beleeuers Now this same description of faith is specially taken out of the fourth Chap. to the Romanes from the sixtenth verse and out of the first Chapiter of the Ephesians from the 17. verse to the ende of both the Chapiters That which is put in the description of the will of God knowen is therefore done because Sathan is oftentimes woont to faigne another meaning of the worde of God besides the will of God Least therefore that faith should stray from the will of God we must indeuer that as the Apostle commandeth in the 12. to the Romanes all prophesying or interpretation of the scripture be according to the analogie or rule of faith least the interpretation fight with the foundation or with any article of faith We will shewe it also more familiarly after this manner this is faith to acknowledge that this is the vnchangeable will of God and to rest in it that freely he will giue vs that promised saluation by the Prophets and that through Christ the same is giuen in deede as the Articles of our faith witnesse that is to acknowledge that these things which are contained in them are freely giuen vnto vs of God according to the testimony of all the Prophets which were from the beginning of the worlde yea and of Christ himselfe and to rest in this constant will of God and giue this glory to God that hath now already shewed his omnipotent power in performing these promises fulfilling in deede the most part of the Articles of our faith and also as yet doth still exercise the same in the applying of those benefites and will certainly shewe it in those that remaine yet to be fulfilled in the Articles neither to consider any thing either in vs or yet without vs in any creature that seemeth contrary to that same grace and diuine truth promised vnto vs and already offred in Christ and at length fully to be accomplished The partition or diuision of the Creede THere are foure principall parts of the Creede The first containeth what we beleeue of God the father who as he hath chosen vs of his meere mercy in Christ before the foundations of the worlde were laide Ephe. 1. so there is set forth in the first part of the Creede the first fountaine of the couenant or reconciliation and therewithall is also taught what we must beleeue of the creation of all things The second what we must beleeue of Iesus Christ the sonne of God in which part is comprehended the whole summe of the couenant of our reconciliatiō The third what of the holy Ghost who by engrafting vs through faith in Christ maketh vs confederates with God applying vnto vs the mercy of the father and the redemption of the sonne The fourth part is concerning the people or of the Church with whom God had stricken his couenant which part containeth the effectes of all the former and the fruite of our faith aswell which we enioye in this life as also which we shall enioy euerlastingly being fully knitte both body and soule with Iesus Christ our heade Rules which shall helpe both our vnderstanding and faith in euery article of faith THe rules which we ought alwayes to haue before our eies aswel in the expoūding as also in the meditating of the Creede are these First that a mans minde knowe in euery of the articles not only the history which knowledge alone is not to saluation forasmuch as the deuills haue that and doe tremble Iames. 2. but also that the heart it selfe embrace through true faith the promise of God and the performance of the promise in Christ and for Christ which lyeth hidde in euery of the articles Acts. 13. vers 32. and the 39. Resolue therefore all the articles into the promises or into the performance of them so thou shalt haue in the articles of faith all the kindes of that wonderfull vnion that we haue with the father with the sonne Iesus Christ and with the holy Ghost which throughout all the Gospell is promised and giuen to the beleeuer 1. Iohn 14. and the 15. The second rule In the applying of the promise looke vpon the counsell of God to witte that to the sonne of God a body soule was so fashioned and fitted that those thinges that were done in them were done in the name of all beleeuers so done in deede that the obedience which was offred vp to the father in his person by the counsell and gift of the father are as truely thine as if they had bene offred vp in thy soule body and that by the same efficacie wherethrough that euerlasting word quickened from death that whole masse and glorified it shall also quicken and glorifie thee For this is the counsell of God this is his vnchangeable will wherevpon we may safely leane now it is made manifest in the writings of the Prophets and Apostles to the Hebr Cap. 10. out of the 40. Psalme Wherefore entring into
vers 9 That same worde is the onely begottē sonne of the father and the co-eternal image of the father His onely begotten sonne Io. 1. We haue seene his glory as the glory of the onely begottē of God To the Hebr. 1. who being the brightnes of his glory the light from the light and very ingraued forme of his person of his substance and bearing vp all things by the worde of his power Our Lord. c. And he is the Lorde of all creatures but chiefly of the faithfull or of the Church Io. 1. He was in the worlde and the world was made by him but the worlde knew him not he came amongest his owne and his owne receiued him not Before he came into the world he was a subsisting person and Dauids Lord from which Christ maintaineth his diuinitie in the 22. of Mathew saying What thinke you of Christ whose sonne is he they say vnto him Dauides he saith vnto them how then doth Dauid in spirit call him Lord saying The Lord said vnto my Lord sit at my right hand till I make thine enemies thy footestoole If therefore Dauid call him Lord how is he his sonne Also Luk. vers 1. verses 16.17.43 and vers 76.77 And thou childe Iohn Baptist shalt be called the Prophet of the most high For thou shalt goe before the face of the Lorde to prepare his waies thou shalt giue the knowledge of saluation to his people Malach. 4. vers 5. Io. 1. This is he that commeth after me that was before me c. Io. 20. vers 28. Thomas answereth him my Lord and my God Acts 16. vers 31. and Chap. 18. vers 10. Who was conceaued by the holy Ghost So Christ was conceaued by the holy Ghost that being before that substantiall worde and by himselfe subsisting he tooke our flesh Philip. 2. who being in the forme of God thought it no robbery to be equall with God but he made himselfe of no reputation taking vpon him the forme of a seruante Hebr. 2. He tooke not the natures of Angels vpon him but he tooke the seede of Abraham Io. 6. I am that bread of life which came down frō heauen Io. 16. I went out from the father came into the worlde c. and 1. Timot. 3. Great is the mysterie of godlines God is manifest in the flesh Borne of the virgine Mary The Prophetes foretolde that this man which is borne of the virgine should not be a man in such sort as should subsist of himselfe as Peter and Paule but the true God to witte the second person bearing and vpholding that humaine lumpe into the vnitie of the person knitte vnto him Isay 7. Beholde a virgine shal be with childe and shal bring forth a sonne thou shalt call his name Immanuell God with vs. And in the 9. A childe is borne vnto vs A sonne is giuen vnto vs and the principalitie was vpon his shoulders and thou shalt call his name wonderfull counseller the mightie God father of eternitie and prince of peace Ierem. 23. I will reare vp to Dauid a righteous braunch and he shall raigne king and shall prosper c. And this is his name whereby they shall call him Iehoua our righteousnesse Miche 5. And thou Bethlehem Euphrata although thou be amongest the thousands of Iehudah out of thee shall there come forth vnto me which shal be the gouernour of Israel and his generations shal be from olde and from the daies of euerlastingnes Coloss 2. vers 9. In him dwelleth all fulnes of the Godhead bodily He suffred vnder Pontius Pilate He confessed before Pontius Pilate vnder whom he suffered that his kingdome was euerlasting and that therefore he came into the worlde that he might giue testimony of the truth Io. 18. vers 36.37 and Acts 4. vers 25.26.27.30 When the same iudge iudged him there is fulfilled that prophecy in the 11. of Zachary Mat. 27. And they tooke thirty peeces of siluer the price of him that was valued whom they of the children of Israel valued And they gaue them for the potters fielde as the Lord appointed vnto mee That which the Lorde foretolde of the children of Israel prising him then when the couenant was to be taken away and the people to be forsaken which he signified by the breaking of the staffe which was called the staffe of meekenes or rather the staffe of ioye But in Christ God manifested in the flesh this full disanullance being at hande yea in all circumstances it was fulfilled by a wonderful prouidence Crucified Crucified Zach. 12. vers 10. They shal looke vnto him whō they haue pearced This Iehoua saith of himselfe and Iohn saith that this was fulfilled in Christ Cap. 19. vers 37. And the 1. Cor. 2. vers 8. If they had knowen they had not crucified the Lorde of glory Acts. 3 vers 15. Ye haue slaine the prince of life Dead Dead The Testament was to be confirmed by the death of the Testator Now the Testator was God Hebr. 9. vers 16.17 And Cap. 8. vers 8.9 Acts 20. God hath purchased the Church vnto himselfe hy his owne bloud Buried descended into hell Oze 13.14.15 Buried descended into hell God saith I will redeeme them from the power of hell I will redeeme them from death I will be thy death O death O hell I wil be thy destruction This was partly fulfilled by Christ and shall partly bee fulfilled hereafter as the Apostle teacheth 1. Cor. 15. vers 55.56.57 Therfore Christ is true God he rose also by his owne power He rose from death the third day Rom. 1. vers 4. Io. 2. vers 19. Destroy you this Temple and I will reare it vp againe in three daies And Cap. 10. vers 17. 18. I lay downe my life that I might take it againe No man taketh it from mee but I laye it downe of my selfe I haue power to lay it downe and power to take it againe That he is the true God that ascended into heauen The third day he rose againe from the dead the Apostle plainly teacheth in the fourth to the Ephesians verses 7.8 9. To euery one of vs is grace giuen according to the measure of the gifte of Christ wherefore he saith when he ascended vp on high He ascended into heauen he led captiuitie captiue Io. 3. vers 13. No man ascendeth vp to heauen that is to say by his owne power for others ascend being drawene but he that hath descended from heauen And Io 6. vers 36. and vers 62. Also in the 16. Cap. vers 28. He sitteth at the right hand of God the father almightie He sitteth at the right hand of God and is worshipped of Angels and men Hebr. 1. To which of the Angels hath he euer saide sitte at my right hande In the same place all the Angels of God shall worshippe him And 1 Pet. 3. vers 22. to the Ephesians 1. verses 20.22.23 to the Philippians
in which wordes he manifestly ioyneth that state which followed the sorrowes of death and the burial with the sorrowes themselues And why so For although the bodie lying in the graue were voide of all sorrowe and of all sense and feeling when Christ was truely and in deede dead notwithstanding seeing that death it selfe â—â—â—ch was continued in the graue seemed to be nothing else but as it were the victorie ful triumph ouer those same sorrowes and torments Christ is then worthily saide to haue ouercome those same deadly and desperate sorrowes which are truely the sorrowes of hell when being dead he ouercame death that he with his might liue euerlastingly with God Seeing therefore that it is certaine that Peter entreateth there of the extreamest degree of the humiliation of Christ it followeth that by his descending into hell there is noted not onely the sorrowes of death but also that extreame shame as the victorie of sorrowes whiles being holden in the graue euen vntill the thirde day he lay as it were oppressed of death Esaie 53. ver 8. And in verie deed although Christ were greatly humbled vpon the crosse and was accounted of the enemies as one forlorne of God and also cried out that he was forsaken of God yet notwithstanding their minde was not contented neither had their rage and madnes together with Sathans ben satisfied vnlesse hee had lien wholy shut vp and oppressed in the graue and so had bene holden of death They shewe that same discontentednes Let him come down from the crosse and we will beleeue in him and albeit they doe so triumph ouer him whiles Christ truely felt those sorrowes of hell as also he witnesseth the same by his voice yet notwithstanding it was but halfe the triumph of Satan or as it were euen begon For euen they by whome Sathan had triumphed ouer Christe as forsaken of God and nowe oppressed they were doubtful careful to continue the same victorie and therefore desire that the sepulchre may be kept and they also set their seale vpon it Matth. 27 verse 62.63 And why doe they this thing euen because they sawe that it should be an imperfect or rather no victorie vnlesse also after burial the possession of victorie might be continued that is the cutting off of Messias as one altogether forsaken of God Daniel in the 9. Chapter seemeth to haue expressed this great humiliation of the sonne of God The Messias shal be cut off and there shal be none to wit that shal helpe him he shal be vtterly forsaken yea whiles he doth not onely foreshewe that but also foresheweth an other that it shal come to passe that he wil establish his couenant and in the seuenth Chapter that he may establish an euerlasting kingdome hee plainely prophecieth that hee shall after that extreame abasing of him selfe rise againe a victorious Conquerour 3. Moreouer besides these Paule sheweth 1. Cor. 15. out of Osee the Prophet that then at length Christes victorie shal be perfect and the deliueraunce from hell in his members when he shall also deliuer their bodies out of that vile estate in which they lie buried for they are sowen in dishonour verse 42. shall ioyne them vnto their soules When this bodie subiect to corruption shal put on saith hee an incorrupt nature and this mortal shal put on immortalitie then shal be fulfilled that which is written Death is swallowed vp in victorie O death where is thy victorie O hell where is thy sting Therefore as long as the graue holdeth them in prison but it holdeth them euen till the resurrection so long it hath some victorie and that shal be fullie taken from it in the resurrection of our bodies So also as long as death and the graue helde Christ dead and as it were vanquished so long continued their power ouer him nowe the same is fullie taken from him when he arose from the dead Lastly the very order it selfe of the articles themselues shewe that by the descending of Christ into hell there is noted that same extreame ignominie which followed his buriall the which thing also is manifest by the antithesis or contrarie comparison of Christe his exaltation For to these same three degrees He is dead buried and descended into hel there are set these three he is arisen ascended into heauen and sitteth at the right hand against death is set resurrection into life against the graue the house of death is set heauen it selfe against the descending into hell as the extreamest degr e of humiliation in dishonour is set the sitting at the right hand of GOD the Father Almightie which is the highest degree of exaltation in glorie Of the fruite of Christe his descention into hell THE summe therefore of either signification of Christe his discending into hell of whiche the latter agreeth more properly to the order of the articles of the faith is that Christ must throughly be humbled or rather forsaken of God to the end that wee might not be forsaken of GOD. First his diuine nature not shewing forth his power that he might feele the sorrowes of death not onely in the bodie but also in the soule moreouer the same worde or rather diuine nature keeping it selfe in secrete and for a time not quickening that lumpe of flesh that it had taken but permitting the bodie pulled from the soule for the space of three dayes to be in the hand or power of the graue that by all meanes Christ might bee thoroughly humbled and made of no reputation for vs to the end we might be assured that not onely our soules are deliuered from the sorrowes of death but that also all ignominie and dishonour is chased from our bodies by this Christe and his merite and by the efficacie and vertue of him at the length fully to be takeÌ„ away albeit they be holdeÌ„ for a time shut vp in the graue as it were conquered of death To be short faithful mindes doe conceaue so much the greater confidence and trust of the loue of God and of that same ful cleansing which is made by the sonne as they see Christ to be made more humble and abiect that without sinne and so much the dearer they see that their saluation did cost him The third day he rose from the dead Testimonies out of the Prophetes and Apostles concerning the resurrection of Christ Psal 16 20. THou wilt not suffer thy holy one to see corruption Actes 2. Men and brethren saith Peter I may boldely speake vnto you of the patriarche Dauid that he is both dead and buried and his sepulchre remaineth with you till this day Therefore seeing he was a Prophet and God had sworne with an oath vnto him that of the fruite of his loines he would raise vp Christ concerning the flesh whom he would place vpon his throne he knowing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ that his soule should not be left in graue neither should his flesh see corruption This
earnest of our inheritaunce whiles we are redeemed into libertie to the praise of his glorie Although therefore wee die yet we shall rise againe into an immortall life because both the right of life is adiudged vnto vs in the raising vp againe of the sonne and wee are ingraffed into this Christ raysed vp as branches vnto the vine both by the outwarde testimonie of the Gospell and also by the inwarde witnesse of the holy Ghost 1. Corinth 15. If Christ bee risen againe we also shall rise againe Hitherto also belongeth it that he calleth him the firste fruits of them that rise againe because the whole haruest of all the faithfull from the beginning of the worlde was sanctified vnto God by the raysing vp of that lumpe which the sonne of God had taken of vs to a blessed resurrection Hitherto also it belongeth that he is called the first begotten from amongest the dead Colossians 1. as else where it shall bee declared more largely Seeing therefore that in raysing vppe of the sonne the right of life is brought to light vnto vs and that same quickening spirite of Christ is giuen vnto vs hauing heard the Gospell that same spirit I say of faith through which not onely our soules but also our bodies are members of our head Christe therefore wee haue an vndoubted pledge in the resurrection of our heade Christe that our bodies are to bee repayred and restored to immortalitie He ascended into heauen Testimones out of the Prophetes and Apostles THE Apostle in the fourth Chapter to the Ephesians citeth a prophecie out of the 68. Psalme concerning the ascension of Christ but vnto euerie one of vs grace is giuen according to the measure of the gift of Christ Wherefore he saith when hee ascended vp on high he led captiuitie captiue and gaue giftes vnto men And the prophecie in the hundred and tenth Psalme of the sitting of the Messias at the right hand of God comprehendeth in it a prophecie of the ascension into the heauens as it were an entrie of that glorious exaltation at the right hande of God the which thing is confirmed by the testimonie of the holy Ghost himselfe by the mouth of Peter Actes 2.34 Since then that he by the right hande of God hath ben exalted and hath receaued of his father the promise of the holy Ghost he hath shedde foorth this amongest you which you see and heare For Dauid is not ascended into heauen but hee saith The Lorde saide to my LORDE sitte at my right hande vntill I make thine enimies thy footestoole So also Markâ— the Euangelist in the sixteenth Chapter ioyneth the entrie with the sitting it selfe at the right hand so after the Lord had spoken vnto them he was receiued into heauen and sitteth at the right hande of God And Christ Iohn 14. foresheweth his ascension into heauen let not your heart be troubled ye beleeue in God beleeue also in mee In my fathers house are many dwelling places otherwise I woulde haue tolde you I goe to prepare a place for you And seeing I goe to prepare a place for you I will come againe and receiue you vnto my self that where I am there you may be also The Euangelists describe a sure manifest fulfilling of these foresayinges concerning the ascension of Christ Marke in the place nowe aledged and Luke in his Euangelicall historie chapter 24. Loe I doe sende the promise of my father vppon you but tarie ye in the citie of Ierusalem vntill yee bee indued with power from on high Now he ledde them out into Bethaniah and lifting vp his handes he blessed them And it came to passe that whiles he blessed them being separate from them heâ— was carried vp into heauen and they worshipping him returned to Ierusalem with great ioye and were continually in the temple lauding and praysing God And in the first of the Actes And when he had spoken these thinges while they behelde hee was taken vp and a cloude tooke him out of their sight and while they looked stedfastly towardes heauen beholde two men stoode by them in white apparell who saide Yee men of Galilie why stande yee gasing into heauen This Iesus which is taken from you into heauen shall so come as yee haue seene him goe into heauen And Peter Actes 3 And nowe brethren I knowe that through ignorance ye did these thinges as also did your gouernours but those thinges which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophetes that Christe shoulde suffer he hath thus fufilled Amend your liues therefore and turne that your sinnes may be put away when the time of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord and when he shall send Iesus Christ which before was preached vnto you whom the heauen must containe vntill the time that all things bee restored which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy Prophets since the world began The meaning of these wordes He ascended into heauen THE meaning is I beleeue Christe who according to his diuine nature was alwayes in the heauens Iohn 1. and 3. after that he had fulfilled the office of ambassage and by the space of fourtie dayes had instructed his disciples concerning the trueth of his resurrection in that same true bodie of his that was taken out of the substance of Marie the virgine that it hanged vppon the crosse was deade and buried that being glorified rose againe that in the selfe same body I say together with a very humaine resonable soule he ascended into the heauens where the seat is of euerlasting felicitie The scripture in the first Chapter of the Actes doeth set out the matter most liuely before our eyes And in an other place he saith the same things that CHRIST departed from his disciples and was lifted vp into heauen Luke 24. that hee went from them Iohn 14. that hee left this worlde Iohn 16. that hee was taken awaye Actes 15. from vs Luke 24. into those same holy tabernacles not made with hands Hebrewes 9. into heauen it selfe Mark 16. that he is there continually and without any interruption Hebrewes 10. that heauen must holde him vntill the time of the restoring of all thinges Act. 2. Howe Christ being absent is yet present BVT if that Christ went from vs hath left this worlde howe is that promise of Christ fulfilled Beholde I am alwayes with you vnto the ende of the worlde Matthew 28. Surely it is so fulfilled euen like as that same other word of Christ was fulfilled Verilie I say vnto you that before Abraham was I am Iohn 8. For like as hee fulfilled that by the presence not of his fleshe but of his diuinitie and yet feared not to say I admit that he vnderstoode it onely of the presence of his diuinitie so also according to his maiestie according to his prouidence according to his vnspeakeable and inuisible grace that saying was fulfilled of him Beholde I am with you alwayes euen to the ende of the
vanquished so that nowe we are deliuered and iustified through Christ from it which also maketh entreatie for vs whilst he saieth for vs which also sheweth that there is farther a newe confirmation of our faith to be added to the nexte of the free iustification thorough Christe to wit that hee also is at the right hande of God whether he could not haue come vnlesse he had beene iustified from our sinnes and that he entreateth also for vs to wit whilest by the power of that onely one sacrifice he appeareth euerlastingly righteous for vs. 1. Iohn 2 1. And so that same abiding at the right hande of God and shewing him selfe before the Father is a continuing of that euerlasting iustification of ours to the end that there should be no place left for any accusation against beleeuers so full euerie manner of waie is our iustification in Christ so euerlasting and so vnderpropped vpon most sure foundations to the knowledge whereof Paule in the place nowe alledged would leade vs by those argumentes as it were by certaine steppes and degrees Of the second fruite of the ascension THe second fruite is that by his ascension into heauen he hath made vs to sit with him in heauenlie places Ephes 2.6 So that we do not onely in a naked hope looke for heauen but we possesse it in the head and in Christ our brother aswell because that same earthly and bodily pledge which he hath taken of vs full expiation cleansing being made of our sins doth possesse the heauens nowe in our name as also because we our selues doe possesse a spiritual and heauenly pledge receaued againe frō him to wit the spirite of Christ dwelling in vs so by the power of the holie Ghost through faith in the promise of the Gospell we are ingraffed into him And therfore Ro. 10.6.8 The righteousnes which is of faith saith thus Say not in thy heart who shal ascend into heauen That is to bring Christ from aboue c. But what saith it The worde is neare thee euen in thy mouth and in thine heart that is that same worde of Faith whiche wee preache Surely the spirituall first fruites of this doctrine are most sweete For it bringeth to passe by the power of Christ his spirite that now in a certain and vndouted hope in our head Christ we possesse heauen Therefore let vs confirme our mindes in this most profitable doctrine by some most euident oracles of the scripture Christ himselfe nowe about to goe into that heauenly possession in our name speaketh on this sort Iohn 14. In my fathers house there are many abyding places if it had bene otherwise I had tolde you I go to prepare a place for you The same Iohn Chap. 20. I ascend to my father and to your father to my God to your God The Apostle also maketh vs so sure of the certaintie of the earnest and pledge which Christ hauing of vs hath aduanced into the heauens that he saith in the second of the Ephesians that God hath made vs to sitte with Christ in heauenly places Againe of sending that same earnest or comforter vnto vs Christe speaketh thus in Ioh. 16. I speake the truth vnto you it is profitable for you that I goe for if I go not that same comforter shal not come vnto you Peter also witnesseth of this same earnest already sent in Actes 2. also Paule in 2. Cor. 1. Who hath sealed vs and giuen the earnest of his spirite in our heartes And most plaine of all other places in the 2. Cor. 5. See also Tertullian in his booke of the resurrection of the flesh where amongest other thinges he writeth thus This Iesus called the Mediator of God men of the trust of either part committed vnto him doth keepe the pledge of the flesh in himselfe as the earnest of the whole summe For like as he hath left the earnest of his spirit with vs so also he hath taken of vs the earnest of the flesh and hath aduanced into heauen the pledge of the whole summe hereafter to be brought thither Be quiet therefore O flesh and bloud you haue vsurped both heauen the kingdome of God in Christ or if they denie you in Christ let them also denie Christ to be in heauen who haue denied heauen vnto you Of the thirde fruite THe third fruite is that Christ therefore sitteth in the highest heauens that through his power shed into our hearts from thence he may drawe vs from these earthly and carnal things present and may quicken them and lift them vp to desire and meditate vpon heauenly and spiritual thinges to come Philip. 3. Our cōuersation is in heauen from whence we looke for our Lorde Iesus Christ He sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almightie Testimonies out of the Prophetes and Apostles Psalme 110. Iehouah hath saide sitte at my right hand vntil I put thine enimies as a footestoole vnder thy feete Iehouah shal send out of Sion the rodde of thy strength rule in the middest of thine enemies Also the Lorde hath sworne and it shall not repent him thou art a Priest for euer after the order of Melchisedech And Christ teacheth in Matth. 22. towardes the end that this prophecie is to be vnderstoode of him And Christ being adiured of the high priest confesseth himselfe to be both the sonne of God and that he will ouercome his enimies sitting at the right hand of God Matth. 26.63 64. And the high priest answering said vnto him I adiure thee by the liuing God that thou tell vs whether thou be Christ that sonne of God Iesus saith vnto him thou hast saide Neuerthelesse I say vnto you hereafter shal you see the sonne of man sitting at the right hand of the power of God comming in the cloudes of heauen The fulfilling of that prophesie of Dauid concerning the sitting at the right hand of God is extant in the 16. of Marke After the Lord had spoken vnto them he was receaued vp into heauen and sitteth at the right hand of God and Act. 2. ver 33.36 5. ver 31. and so that same stone refused of the builders was made the head of the corner Act. 4. ver 10.11.12 Which stone cut from the mountaine without handes goeth to the right hand of God to breake al the rest of the kingdoms but his kingdome shal stand for euer Dan. 2. ve 44.45 And Paul in Ephes 1.18.19.20 That ye may know what the hope is of his calling and what the riches of his glorious inheritance is in the Saintes and what is the exceding greatnes of his power towards vs which beleue according to the working of his mightie power which he wrought in Christ when he raised him vp frō the dead and set him at his right hand in the heauens To what end sitting at the right hand of God the Father almightie is added to his ascension into heauen THe scope or principal end of Christe his ascension
is already set foorth to wit that Christ ascended into heauen not onely that he might there enioy euerlasting felicitie as the Angels doe and all blessed men but that hee might sit at the right hand of God which farre exceedeth the dignitie of Angels and of men as he witnesseth in the Epistle to the Heb. Ca. 1.13 For vnto which of the Angels saide he at any time sit at my right hand til I make thine enimies thy footstole Nowe seeing God is not a bodily substance therefore hath neither right or left hande at which Christ should stand or sitte it is manifest that these wordes and manner of speeches are taken from men and worldly thinges by which holie thinges answering in some sorte our infirmitie might be liuely set before our eyes explaned For in verie deede men to whome they graunt or giue either equal honor or that which is nexte vnto themselues they are wont to place them at their right hand that in this verie thing they may testifie that honour 1. King 2. Psal 45. What the sitting at the right hand of God the Father is THat same sitting at the right hand of God the Father is the exaltation of Christe in his kingdome and priesthoode to wit that nowe he administreth his kingly and priestly office not as before in infirmitie and miserie but in a manifest heauenlie maiestie glory Therefore then thou doest truely beleeue in Christ his sitting at the right hand of God the father almightie when thou beleeuest that he doth entreate for thee in heauen in high glory and that he doth gouerne his kingdome with a mighty power so that he doth heare thee doth more effectually endue and defend thee with the spirite of consolation and wisedome then if he were yet in the earth and shoulde speake with thee Act. 5.31 Him hath God lifted vp with his right hand to be a Prince and a Sauiour to giue repentance to Israel and forgiuenes of sinnes And Ephe. 1. He hath raised him vp from the dead and sette him at his right hand in the heauens farre aboue all principalitie and power and might and domination and euerie name that is named not onely in this world but in that which is to come and hath made all thinges subiect vnder his feete and hath appointed him head to the Church it selfe ouer all thinges which is his bodie euen the fulnesse of him which filleth all in all thinges Also to the Hebrues 8. verse 4. 1. Peter 3. verse 22. By these places it is plaine that the Scripture nameth the sitting at the right hand of God not that same administration of the kingdome and priesthoode which for the voluntarie abasing of Christ was weaker and more obscure but that same perfect gouernement honour and glorie of Christ which was free from all infirmities openly manifested and declared into which then the first entrance was when he arose againe from death ascended into heauen and there in an vnspeakable glorie declared himself to be Lord of al creatures in the sight of all holie Angels and men What fruite the faithfull receiue by that same sitting of Christ at the right hande of God or rather by that exaltation of Christe in his kingdome and priesthood FIrst concerning that same exaltation of Christ in the priesthood those that are in league with God doe reape from thence this consolation that they knowe that this couenant of grace by the intercession of this mediator kept and maintained euerlastingly as it appeareth Hebr. 8. verses 6. and 12. the which intercession is the shewing of him selfe before the face of the father that the efficacie and strength of that sacrifice once offered vp for all might continually be in force and this same perpetuall will of keeping it in this Mediator is agreeable with the will of the Father accepting that same sacrifice once offred vp for an euerlasting reconciliation and approuing this endeuor in the mediator of maintaining it according to the oathe Psalme 110. The Lorde hath sworne and it shall not repent him thou art a priestâ— for euer after the order of Melchizedek or that I may speake a little more largely First all the confederates doe reape this fruite in the exaltation of Christ in the priesthode that they know that the Mediator of this euerlasting couenant is entred into that same sanctuarie not made with handes the verie heauen it selfe and is exalted to the right hand of God that continuallie and without any interruption and that euery moment he may appeare an intercessour before the father for vs and so may maintein that same couenant once established for euer and may confirme it by his intercession in the heauenly throne of his Maiestie I. The testimonies of the euerlasting conseruation of this free couenant appeare in the eight to the Hebrues verse 6. But now our high priest hath obteined a more excellent ministerie in asmuch as he is the intercessor of a more notable couenant which is ratified by more excellent promises c. Also in the 7. to the Hebrues And that not without an oath for these are made priestes without an oath but this is made wtth an oath by him that saide vnto him the Lorde hath sworne and it shal not repent him thou art a priest for euer after the order of Melchisedech By so muche is Iesus made a suretie of a better Testament for among these many were made priestes by reason that death suffred them not to endure but this man because that he endureth for euer hath a perpetuall priesthod By which he is able also perfectly to saue those which come to God through him euermore liuing to make intercessioÌ„ for vs. II. Concerning the appearing of Christe in â—he sight of God for vs and the perpetuall verâ—ue of the sacrifice of Christ once offered vp it is written Hebru 9. verse 24. Christe entered in â—nto a sanctuarie not made with handes which â—s a patterne aunswering vnto the true sanctuâ—rie but into heauen it selfe that he may apâ—eare nowe in the sight of God for vs. And Heb. 10. ver 22. This man after he had offered one â—acrifice for sinnes sitteth without any interruption that 〈◊〉 for euer at the right hand of the Father III. As touching the will in the sonne of mainteining it and of the Fathers will in accepting of it the oath doth witnesse whereof God will not repent him and consequently neither will it repent the sonne of receiuing the office of being an euerlasting Sauiour Psal 110. Rom. 8. Who shal laie any thing to the charge of God his chosen It is God that iustifieth who shal condemne It is Christ which is dead yea rather which is risen againe who is also at the right hand of God who also maketh request for vs. Out of which wordes that same constant will in the sonne of keeping vs before the sight of the Father which Paul comprehendeth in intercession is vnderstoode and which answereth vnto the will of God
from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. If when Christ raigned in humilitie the diuels were constrained to aske him leaue howe shall they nowe dare to attempt anie thing against any member of Christ after that Christ is ascended on high hath led captiuitie captiue vnlesse first they shall entreate the Lorde Christ But faithfull is Christ our Lorde who shall not suffer vs to bee tempted aboue that wee shall bee able to beare 1. Corinthians 10. If then when he gouerned his kingdom in humilitie and great abasement the sea was still when he said Mar 4. be still What shall be now done he raigning in high glorie when he wil declare his wil as were but by a becke against the stormes of persecutions But wee are the members of so great a Lorde and of Christ and therefore he not only can but also will that which is most healthful vnto vs. And doe not we nowe much more deserue that Christ should vpbrayde no lesse vnto vs then vnto the Apostles a lacke for sorrowe that same faintnes of faith because that in the tempestes of aduersities in the meditation of so great thinges our faith doeth mount vp no higher See an example of defence Act. 18. ver 8.9 From thence he shal come to iudge both the quicke and the deade Testimonies out of the Prophetes and Apostles DAniel 7.13 I did see in a vision by night behode one like the sonne of man came in the cloudes of heauen and approached vnto the auncient of dayes and they brought him before him and he gaue him dominion honour and a kingdome that all people nations and languages shoulde serue him his dominion is an euerlasting dominion which shall neuer be taken away and his kingdome shal neuer be destroyed And in the Epistle of Iude verses 14.15 And Enoch also the seauenth frō Adam prophecied of these saying beholde the Lorde commeth with thousandes of his sainctes to giue iudgement against all men and to rebuke all the vngodly among them of all their wicked deedes which they haue vngodly committed and of all their cruell speakings which wicked sinners haue spoken against him Matth. 25. And when the sonne of man commeth in his glorie and all the holy Angels with him Then shall he sit vppon the throne of his glorie and all nations shall bee gathered before him and hee shall separate them one from an other as a sheepehard separateth the sheepe from the goates And he shal set his sheepe on his right hand and the goates on the left Then shall the king say to them on his right hande Come ye blessed of my father take the inheritance of the kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the world For I was an hungred and ye gaue me to eate I thirsted and you gaue me to drinke c. 2. Pet. 3. verse 9. The Lorde is not slacke as some men count slackenesse of that promise he hath promised but is patient toward vs and woulde haue no man to perish but all to come to repentance But the day of the Lord wil come as a theefe in the night in the which the heauens shall passe awaye with a noise and the elements shall melt away with heate and the earth with the workes therein shall be burnt vp Seeing therefore that all these thinges must be dissolued what maner of persons ought ye to be in holy couersation and godlinesse looking for and hasting vnto that day of the Lord by the which the heauens being on fire shall bee dissolued and the elementes shall melt with heat Why this article is added vnto the former THis article is added vnto the former for the greater confirmation of our faith For because Christ sitting at the right hand of his father doeth so exercise his kingly power of iudging partly by defending his that are in couenant with him that yet in the meane while hee keepeth them vnder the crosse and wronges of their enemies to mortifie sinne partly so bridling the vngodlie Actes 12. that in the meane season he leaueth many thinges vnpunished to the ende his long sufferaunce may exclude all excuse and therefore Christ our Lorde will to the ende that wee bee not troubled with any miseries or crueltie of enemies that we shoulde lift vp our heades with true confidence of minde to looke for his comming that the greater our miserie shall bee the more certaine wee may bee that the daye of our triumph is at hande and of the righteous destruction of all the wicked enemies of God That the generall and last iudgement must of necessitie be that we may bee armed against those scorners whome the holy Ghost hath foreshewed shoulde be by Peter the Apostle in these last times A sure foundation may bee taken from the righteousnes of God and the state of the righteous in this life as Paul hath concluded in the 1. Thes 1. For it is a righteous thinge with God to recompence tribulation to them that trouble you and to you which are troubled release with vs when the Lorde Iesus shall shewe himselfe from heauen with his mightie Angels in flaming fire c. Forasmuch therefore as that recompence is not in this life which the righteousnes of God requireth and this notwithstanding this righteousnes remayneth firme vnmoueable with God for euer that the wicked may be punished the Godly may receiue that same promised release there vpon the Apostle inferreth that that is a manifest token of the iust iudgement of God to followe of the comming of the Lorde Furthermore this foundation being laide the destruction of the citie of Ierusalem maie bee added which Christ ioyned with the prophecie of the last iudgement not without a great weightie cause that is to say the figure with the thing signified that wee might no more doubt of his wrath to come vppon the vngodly in the day of iudgemēt then of the shame of the Iewes foreshewed of Christ which yet they beare before our eyes Matth. 24. Luke 21. Of the meaning of this Article THE meaning of this article is I doe beleeue that Iesus Christe doeth not onely nowe exercise his kingly power of iudgeing by his vertue from heauen by diuerse examples aswell in defending the godly as repressing the wicked but also that he shall solemnly come from heauen from the right hande of the power of God in a corporall presence thorowly to iudge all men as well those that are departed out of this life frō the beginning that the worlde was created whose bodies shal rise againe as those whome that day shall finde remaining yet liuing in this worlde who shall soudenly be changed Nowe forasmuch as to iudge is to absolue the innocent to beautifie them and to condemne the wicked and to punish them I beleeue that he shall so iudge that hee shall fully deliuer the godly and beutifie them with eternall glorie contrariwise that he shall fully execut the condemnation vppon the