Iesus which is taken vp from you into heauen shall so come as you haue seen him go into heuen Abraham receiued three Angels with the presence of God Gen. 18. 2. Lot receiued two Angels as messengers from God of his saluation in the absence of the Lord Gen. 19. 3. for the Lord sent them to destroy the city In such places is the office of the Trinity to be marked and most diligently considered Likewise that he ascended it appeereth by S. Lukes words Luk. 24. 51. And it came to passe that as he blessed them he departed from them and was carried into heauen into that ancient and euerlasting house of his father where the riches and treasure of Christs kingdome lay where neither rust nor moth could corrupt nor theeues break through and steale which is the farthest height of heauen and aboue all heauens that we can imagine as is abouesaid Let vs not therfore be gazers woonderers or strangers to the things that ought to be most familiar vnto vs. For nothing appeereth plaine to them that know not God and him whom he sent our sauiour Iesus Christ. HE SITTETH AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD THE FATHER ALMIGHTY Who being the brightnes of glory and the ingrauen forme of Gods person and bearing vp all things by his mighty word Heb. 1. hath by himselfe purged our sinnes and sitteth at the right hand of his fathers maiesty in the highest place Ephes. 1. Heer commeth to passe the spirituall prophesie of Dauid saying The Lord said vnto my Lord sit thou on my right hand till I make thine enimes thy footstoole which is to say at the right hand that ruleth all the wolrd this is the right hand that shall find out them that hate him Psal. â—1 8. strong is his hand Psal. â—9 and high is his right hand The right hand of the Lord hath the preheminence Psal. 118. the right hand of the Lord bringeth mighty things to passe Dauid being a prophet and speaking vnto men was to vse the phrase of men and also to allude vnto the manners and power of men for all the preferment that hath been among men hath been to place authority on the right hand seeing all actiuitie worthines prosperity readines and facility consisteth in the right hand of a man This was the reason of Dauid his figuratiue speech to make men vnderstand the preheminence of the most High wheras indeed God is all spirit and hath no communion with flesh as it is already prooued His right hand is a threatning hand to them that hate him but it entertains them kindly that loue and worship him in spirit and true holines as doers of his will and obseruers of his commaundements Which thing the prophet slacked not when he said Lo I com for in the book of life it is written of me shewing his election by the holy spirit Yet why doth he so stedfastly affirme that it is written of him c surely his owne soule told him For saith he Psal 40. I desired to do thy good wil O my God yea thy law is within my hart and I say thy right hand Psal. 44. thine arme and thy cheerfull countenance saueth and defendeth all such as thou fauorest Againe Psal. 18. thy right hand hath staied me and thy louing kindnes made me grow I beheld the Lord alwaies before me saith he and he is at my right hand Acts. 2. there shall I not be shaken By this we may well perceiue the worthines of Christ receiued by his father into that holy place into which he entred a sacrificer for sinne once for all so there is one God one mediator betwixt God and man Iesus Christ. Wherfore lift vp your harts vnto the Lord let your soules be lifted vp on high yea and fly vnto heauen as a bird with a most cheerfull note and a new song praising God and saying Hosanna in the highest which is to say Saue vs O thou that dwellest in the most high FROM THENCE HE SHALL COME Euen as the men of Galile saw him go Acts. â— 11. and he shall come riding vpon Cherub Psal. 18. 10. and flying vpon the wings of the wind Behold he will come with his fan in his hand Math 3. 12. and he will make clean his floore and gather his wheat into his garner but he will burne vp the chaff with vnquenchable fire Wherfore shall hee come thence TO IVDGE THE QVICK AND THE DEAD Now Gods throne is a firy throne whose comming to iudgement no man knoweth who at his comming shal baptise with the holy Ghost and with fire comming suddenly as a theef in the night or as a maister whose return the seruant knoweth not least the wicked should be forewarned to flee from the anger to come and aduaunce themselues concerning the aduantage of this life therfore they shall giue account to him that is ready to iudge both the quick and the dead 1. Pet. 4. 5. Iudge nothing O people of the earth before the time vntill the Lord commeth who will lighten things that are hid in darknes and make the counsels of the hart manifest and then shall euery man that doth so haue praise of God Christ commanded his Apostles to preach that he was ordained of God a iudge of quick and dead Saint Paul saith I witnes before God and the Lord Iesus Christ that shall come againe to iudge the quicke and the dead at his appeerance and his kingdom 2. Tim. 4. which is to say when his kingdome shall come that we daily pray for in the Lords praier in which kingdom the Lord make vs partakers of his sonnes inheritance euen as we growe in him vnto the house of the liuing Amen I BELEEVE IN THE HOLY GHOST Heer againe is the first tenor of our confession repeated to wit I beleeue in which ought to haue relation wholy and seuerally to the three persons only least we make a confusion of all as some do which take it literally without discerning the sense at all but saying in haste I beleeue in the holy Ghost the holy catholike church the communion of saints c. Heer the simple except he be taught cannot vnderstand but that he beleeueth in the catholike church and in the communion of saints c. so far foorth as in the holy Ghost or in the other two persons but of this point anon more at large I beleeue in the holy Ghost Why I beleeue in the father and the sonne as is abouesaid and the holy Ghost is all one with the father and the sonne for he proceedeth both of the father and the sonne and with the father and the sonne togither is glorified therfore I equally beleeue in the holy Ghost as in the father or the sonne or as in both father and sonne For bicause the holy Ghost is exempted from neither it pertaineth to each one and to both alike The holy Ghost was the father and
admiration of it But we thinke and contend that it is ynough to acknowledge Christ our redeemer and to beleeue in him whom the father hath sent we are much deceiued to call that ynough which is in due respect nothing For the diuell acknowledged Christ to be the sonne of God which the Papists are alwaies ready to obiect when we argue iustification by faith but the text saith that he confessed him with trembling So then before we can acknowledge him our redeemer we must of necessity learne how we became bound and before we can rightly beleeue in him whom the father hath sent we must needs vnderstand some warning of his message which most often and breefly is repeated throughout the body of the old Testament Then must we try whether he came according to the fulnes of time wherin the father promised to send him and afterward when he is come whether his message be of God or not he himselfe exhorteth vs to make trial These seem good ground-works to build our faith vpon for as it is required in vs to beleeue so is it most expedient for vs to know him in whom we do beleeue bicause it separateth vs from death to life as before I alleaged For example Christ saith to the theef Luk. 23. 43. This day shalt thou be with me in paradise and againe of himselfe Father into thine hands I commend my spirit But concerning his body it died in the flesh for it was wrapped in linnen and laid in a tombe by Ioseph a iust man of Arimathaea and Nicodemus according to the manner of the Iewes Luk. 23. 52. and buried and to manifest that his body was dead after the maner of men the women prepared sweet odours and ointments and rested the Saboth day Nicodemus might heer see a cleerer sight of the second birth than he had before neither was his buriall an illusion to deceiue mens sight for the Iewes would not be mocked but commanded a watch and sure fastening to the doore least his disciples should steal him away keeping in mind the words that he spake vpon the earth Math. 27 64. Within three daies I will rise Thus haue I concluded his passion the manner of his passion and also his buriall which was according to the law HE DESCENDED INTO HELL Heer commeth the article that drew me to this whole discourse for that I saw the learned somthing at ods about it yet so as all both the one and the other did firmly hold it necessarily inserted in our Christian faith Neither wil I take vpon me heer so much to reconcile the learned which diuersly allow of it as to debell the vnlearned opinions which admits it not at all holding it a superfluous and needlesse article to be taught among Christian families It is somthing strange when clownes exceed in sophistry This kind of men had rather be followed as Christs of a new church than follow Christ as disciples of the true Church It behooueth them therfore in whom remedy consisteth speedily to redresse such erronious errors least some other soone after should deny that hee ascended into heauen Acts. 23. wherby a sect of Saduces might arise amongst vs Math. 27. denying any resurrection at all and so the latter error become greater than the former Now therfore concerning the misconstruing of these words then touching the abiection of them and lastly how to vnderstand them both in their vtmost force and also how they were first ment in the primitiue Church as appeereth by the indifferency of the penners of them But as concerning his descending or going downe no man I know will deny this word that hath any feeling of the ascension and going vp which is most manifest by Saint Pauls Epistle to the Ephesians which reciteth the prophet Dauids words mentioned in the Psalmes Ephes. 4. 8. Thou art gon vp on high Psal. 68. and hast led captiuity captiue thou hast receiued gifts for men yea euen the rebellious hast thou led that the Lord God may dwell there praised be the Lord which ladeth vs daily Selah But Saint Paules allusion is this that he ascended and captiued captiuity and gaue dwelling places to men Now insomuch that he ascended saith he what is it but that he descended first into the lower parts of the earth and he that went downe is he that went vp aboue al heauens to fulfill all thingâ— If therefore he had been to go downe to the place of the damned as some will he must had descended into the lowest part of the earth as he went vp to the highest heauen for his depth ought to had been answerable to his height nay 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vnder all the earth as he ascended 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aboue all heauens Reason will that as the Lords glory wherwith he glorified his sonne is aboue all heauens for they were made by him and they are the work of his owne hands and waxe old as doth a garment and shall passe and melt away like wax euen so the damned are to haue their portion below all the earth by opposition Seeing as happines and vnhappines are extremities so are their habitations most extreme and remote one from the other which cannot be in places to be discerned by flesh except we will deuise to make purgatories in the concauities of the earth as Papists haue done or our eies more sharp than Moses eies were For arguments sake then I conclude this that seeing the state of the damned is permanent for euer it is not to be changed by a new creation 2. Pet. 3. 9. For there shall be a new heauen and a new earth so that this heauen which we see is as a vaile before our eies to keep vs from the sight of God whose face would be so glorious that we should not be able to look vp for he appeered in a flame of fire Exod. 3. 6. which God our sauiour maketh himself vsing his fathers owne words shewing Exod. â—2 â—2 that it is he that sitteth on the firy throne this earth but a bar to defend vs from the outrage of the damned spirits which would consume vs with horror and there were no helpe for vs. But for the places of Gods existence and of the euerlasting prison the diuine scripture in no language hath affoorded names except circumstantiall or metaphoricall nay God himselfe hath forborne to name the place of the happy or vnhappy and much lesse was man able to perform it for he neuer went and came againe Neither in our sight can any proper resemblance be made of it Therfore let vs thinke of Christs descension that he went first into the lower parts of the earth which Saint Paul alluding Ezechiels words Ezec. 32. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 writeth in these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is all one as to say What is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth Heer he said
heauen shall he thunder vpon them the Lord shall iudge the ends of the world and shall giue power vnto his king and exalt the horn of his annointed Therfore whoso beleeueth stedfastly in him he is already translated into life eternall Through this beleef was Enoch and Elias taken vp quick into heauen to remain happy with him for euermore Gen. 5 24. For it is said Henoch pleased God for he walked with him and was no more seen for God tooke him away so was Eliah while hee walked with Elisha taken by a whirlwind into heauen 2 King 2. 11. whose spirit was so setled on this heauenly Godhead that he knew before that he should be taken vp when as he said to Elisha 2. King 2. 9. What shal I do for thee before I be taken from thee Neither must we think that there is any other mediation to be made for vs by angels saints or elementall creatures of what sort soeuer than our owne spirituall confession and liuely protestation for after we duly conceiue what a God he is by him our temporall life that beleeue shall be translated into euerlasting life This is the fountaine of nature and nature it self the author of antiquity Dan. 7. 22. and the ancient of daies whose word is truth whose being is inuariable and whose place is perfection He made man the most excellent creature on the earth whom he created in honor Gen. 2. 15. and placed in pleasure According to his owne image made he him Gen. 1. 27. that hee might be glorified in him and gaue him dominion ouer all his creatures in earth This then is to be beleeued of vs that as we remained in him and his power before all worlds were made and before our first father Adam was created so when he shall take this life from vs that he hath giuen vs and bereaue vs of this earthly stewardship that we shall return again to that euerlasting place wherin we were first elected and prepared before the world was made or any foundation laid therof Adam fell by misbeleef to death by neglecting the first caueat that God gaue him who soon by the inticement of the woman sinned extremely by eating of the only forbidden tree of the garden Gen. 3. 6. both being circumuented by the subtilitie of satan the prince of darknes Neither are we our selues free from that corruption which he wrought vnto vs his posterity yet God to keepe his owne image from desperation hastned to promise him life again Gen. 3. 15. if he would harken vnto it which no doubt Adam laid hold on being contented for to leaue the pleasure that he had in this world only hoping for life in the world to com Gen. 2. 23. For he named his wife Euah life foreseeing that she should be the mother of life and that her seed should bruse the serpents head which he counted a sufficient reuenge vpon his deadly enimy Isai. 27. 1. In what day the Lord with his mighty sword should visit the piercing serpent yea that crooked serpent and slea the dragon in the sea and he most assuredly beleeued that it should happen though in his daies he might not see it Deut. 3. 28. Euen so trauelled Moses for the rest he saw not for the good of his posterity the Israelits 2. Sam. 1. and likewise Dauid warred for the peace of Salomon 1. King 1. Therfore let men be wise and take heed of surfetting in too much pleasure of this world least they be wholy disinherited of the world to com We see how glad Adam was to imbrace this little branch of life wheras before he made no reckoning of the whole body which he enioyed His beginning was happines but by his disobedience hath left a cursed inheritance to all nations of the earth Wherefore it is not ynough for vs to continue in the state wherin we were first borne albeit it had been blessednes in him so to haue done for then we abide still as children of wrath Col. 3. 5. 6. But seeing so many so little alter from their nature let vs all bee circumspect and looke about vs how to escape this prison of ignorance the bait of satan as the part of a wise man is to see both before and behinde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hom. II. not too much besotted with the security of the present time Let vs therfore looke back and consider by our fall from whence our redemption is to com then with a liuely faith indeed lay hold of it as did Adam and the rest of the holy fathers which before the law or any ordinances were made receiued the comfort of the holy Ghost hauing an entire hope of the continuall grace of the same God For from thencefoorth Adams conscience dwelt in the Lord so that he beleeued in God the father almighty maker of heauen and earth And this was a true faith in him bicause he had no other father but God who was almighty for he made him of nothing he made also heauen and earth earth to bring foorth creatures and heauen to nourish them vnto mans vse Therfore we rightly say Our father or I beleeue in God the father almighty maker of heauen and earth For euery mans faith is knowne vnto himselfe and another mans faith is to him vncertaine This beleefe brought life vnto him that was dead likewise Noah his beleefe was the same in the arke such was Abrahams when he would haue offered his only sonne Isaac in whose seed the blessing of all nations was hoped for Gen. 12 3. according to the promise and the like in many other which for breuity I recite not Exod. 4. 30. as Moses by his wondrous miracles in the land of Egypt in so much as he excelled al the wit 2. King 6. 6. magick of that land Elisha made iron to swim in the water with many other which became true prophets of things to come so immortall was their beleef in those daies that their daily bread was the heauenly cogitation of this eternall subiect Matt. 6. 11. the infinity of power happines strength and honor the recorder of his owne hand-work the register of all that is done the cause of all things that shall happen We haue in respect of him no maner of being no presence no life no perfection our being is inconstant for man is vnstable in all his waies Our presence is of no abiding Psal. 39. 5. for he hath made our daies but as a span long To conclude our actions and cogitations are so peruerse and wicked that it might repent the Lord of our redemption as it repented him that he made man Gen. 6. 7. And a very smal number should enter the ark and be saued That poore life which we haue is no more to be respected than death it self seeing it withereth as the lilly in all his glory Our greatest perfection is but extreme
the kingdom the Iewes shall be cast into vtter darknes where shall bee weeping and gnashing of teeth What then can their proud linage and alliance helpe them when for not beleeuing aright in the Messias they fal daily into condemnation Now againe to return to our own farther instruction from whence commeth our help and our saluation euen from the Lord that hath made both heauen and earth or from the father Lord of heauen and earth Matt. 11. 25. This Iesus came from heauen was made flesh of the virgin Mary begotten of his father before all worlds he is very God as touching his father and very man as touching his mother wherby he might vndertake manhood and ioin it vnto his Godhead and becom a fit messenger about his fathers busines as he answered the propitiations for them I must go about my fathers busines Luk. 2. 49. to prooue that he was the true root of Ishai Isay. 11. 1. and the seed of Abraham Luke 3. Saint Luke laieth downe the line of his manhood to God reckoning all his fathers till Adam Saint Mathew sheweth his diuinity and the succession of his right vnto the kingdom Matth. 1. as it was said Isai. 8. 14. A virgin shall conceiue a sonne and thou shalt call his name EMANVEL God with vs. This is that seed of the woman that was to bruise the serpents head and to take the prey out of the diuels iawes which meanes of redemption by the ey of faith the holy fathers foresaw He therfore is not to be thought Iesus the sonne of Nun Iosh. 1. 1. nor Iesus that was called Iustus Col. 4. 11. Paules work-fellow nor Iesus the sonne of Sirach Ecclus. 50. 27. but Iesus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which was called Christ the annointed Matth. 1. 16. to shew the title of his earthly honor the other name declareth his authority in heauen by his fathers spirituall and euerlasting inheritance but of the name Christ is hereafter to be spoken This name was giuen by his father to the end that men might beleeue in him being sent and not be deceiued by any other professed Iosua therfore was it told Dan. 9. 24. Messiah shall be slaine euen the Lords Christ or annointed And to make the blinde Iewes more inexcusable the very day and hower of his death was fore-shewed by the prophet He was called Iesus of his infinit saluation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Matth. 1. 21. for hee shall saue his people from their sinnes Like as if he should make those which the Lord hath called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 none of his people 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his especiall people or turne the Lords fearfull and terrible words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I will not haue pity 1. Pet. 2. 10. into ruhhamah I will haue pity on For such is the vertue and force of his reconciliation with his father This was the very lamb of God that wrought Israels saluation he shall make crooked pathes straight a bruised reed shall he not breake euen so patiently went he as a sheep vnto the slaughter not opening his mouth Oh how vnspeakable seemeth this patience to vs his followers when the least occasions the greatest in this respect being nothing can withdraw our most heauenly and deuout cogitations of spirit to the most earthly and sensuall wil of the flesh Which plainly discouereth our vnwilling seruice of God our vrged obedience towards him our most vndutifull expectation of him our idle hands in his vineyard our dull eares in hearing him and whatsoeuer else we neglect which generally is the time pleasing of vs all Wherfore good brethren serue him as ye ought willingly obey him liberally humbly attend on him be not found idle in the vintage nor as deafe adders stopping your eares at the voice of the charmer charm he neuer so wisely neither harden your harts as in the day of prouocation or in the day of temptation in the wildernes and let vs learne to serue the world euen as it serueth vs which is euen then to loath it when it seemeth most amiable then to refuse it when it most desireth vs and then to fear it most when it most fawneth vpon vs. But what crosses can the frailty of mans flesh abide or from what will or earthly pleasure can it abstaine truly not the least although it were to win the euerlasting ioy of heauen Notwithstanding Iesus warneth vs to suffer reproches for his sake Math. 5. 11. adding blessednes to our patience and also he willeth vs to com vnto him all that are weary and heauy loden Math. 11. 28. and he will refresh vs. Likewise he saith vnto vs Take on my yoke and learn of me for I am meeke and lowly in hart and ye shall finde rest for your soules Recording the prophets exhortations to the people of Ierusalem in these words Ier. 6. 16. Take heed to the ancient waies of your fathers Abraham Isaac and Iacob which is the good way walk therin and you shall find rest for your soules This is the saluation that the prophet Dauid so much delighted in Psal. 69. For saith he God will saue Sion and build againe the walles of the city of Iuda and they shall dwell there and inherit it and the seed of his seruants shall inherit it and they that loue his name shall dwell therin Iesus was sent not only a sauiour to the Iewes that faithfully receiued him bicause they were his owne kindred but also vnto them that were without yea euen the Gentiles As it is said Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for he hath raised vp a mighty saluation for vs in the house of his seruant Dauid to be a light to lighten the Gentiles and a glory to the people of Israel and to perform the oth which he sware to our forefather Abraham that he would giue vs. There may we well vnderstand and mark that he was sent a deliuerance to all nations that they whosoeuer should call vpon him might be deliuered from the feare of their enimies ghostly or bodily to wit the outragious threatnings of Satan or any opprobrious comminations of this world This was the saluation that Simeon prophesied of and receiued comfort by Luke 2. when he said Lord now lettest thou thy seruant depart in peace for mine eies haue seen thy saluation and likewise Maries thanksgiuing Luke 1. when she said My soule doth magnify the Lord and my spirit reioiceth in God my sauiour It seemeth the prophets had no greater comfort than still to be foreshewing of this sauiour the redemption of the world as their prophecies mention Isai. 1. 2. 3. In that day the highest mountaine shal be prepared and exalted aboue all hils and all nations shall flow vnto it and many people to wit the Gentiles shall go and say Com let vs go vp to the mountaine of the Lord to the house of the God of Iacob
father hath giuen him He is the holy one that dwelleth in the praises of Israel Psal. 22. 3. in whom our fathers trusted and were deliuered his therfore is the kingdome power Math. 6. 13. and glory for euer and euer Amen He is the Lord of hosts that now fighteth for the house of Israel whose fight let vs manfully vndertake commending our weake forces to his mighty protection Psal. 18. for he is a sure rock of defence in all his waies WHICH WAS CONCEIVED BY THE HOLY GHOST BORN OF THE VIRGINE MARY This especially doth confirme our beleef in Christ Iesus his only sonne in that he was conceiued by the holy Ghost All spirituall conception is from God the father of spirit and life whose works are all miracles in our cleerest sight but this comprehension of our sauiour was meerly spirituall therfore he truly descended from God the father of spirit for before they cam togither she was found with child and that which was conceiued in her was of the holy Ghost Math. 1. Before the morning sprang Messiah had the dew of his birth and before the womb of his mother was made he was knowen who hath been is and shall be all one with the father the same whose yeeres endure for euer although the heauens passe and waxe old as doth a garment He is Michael the Archangel of the couenant high sacrificer of the heauenly Ierusalem and he that buried Moses vsing the words of Iehoua S. Iude. The Lord rebuke thee sathan Here the Papists are seen extremely doting when they make the virgine Mary the queen of heauen and the speciall means by whose praiers and aduocation they attaine to saluation as if of necessity there must be both king and queen which absurd conclusions might by Homers diuinity be sufficiently reproued and corrected when he saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hom. II. which is to say A gouernment of many is not good let there be one king Which words although he spoke them not diuinely yet our experience telleth vs that it was skilfully aduised concerning a Common-wealth In saying thus they abrogate the power of Christ and his authority in heauen and make the Trinity imperfect in vnity of Godhead the persons not hauing equal relation each to other they giue vnto Mary that which pertaineth vnto Christ all one with God conceiued by the holy Ghost of his father Wherfore it is he that remaineth still our King our Iudge and Sacrificer whose kingdom is infinit whose iudgement is irreuocable and his priesthood hath none end Saint Iohn saith If any man sinne we haue an aduocate with the father 1. Iohn 2. 1. Iesus Christ the iust and he is the propitiation for our sinnes But in that he was born of the virgine Mary he was a fleshly body to stand for the redemption of all flesh yea of his owne mother whom he reproued of ignorance when she said Why hast thou dealt thus with thy father and me we haue sought thee with heauy harts He answered How is it that ye haue sought me know you not that I must go about my fathers busines but they vnderstood not Which sheweth that she was of the earth earthly and now sleepeth no doubt with her fathers waiting for a glorious resurrection of an immortall body by the intercession of her owne Iesus to whom all power is giuen both in heauen and earth as it is said Blessed is the fruit of thy womb for thou hast brought foorth the sauiour of our soules the true Emanuel God-with-vs For he came in flesh to take away the sinne of the flesh and is also in spirit to continue with al them that beleeue in him for euermore Neither may we imagine any other wight in heauen or earth woorthy to be beleeued in besides the three persons in vnity for as the sonne is aduocate with the father and the father and sonne all one so the holy Ghost being of them both conueieth vs vnto them by an assured faith that we may be with Emanuel which is God with vs for euer He was called Emanuel long before by the prophet Isai A virgine shall conceiue a sonne and she shall call his name Emanuel SVFFERED VNDER PONTIVS PILATE WAS CRVCIFIED DEAD AND BVRIED The prophet Dauid spake of this his passion Psal. 22. 16. saying Dogs haue compassed me and the assembly of the wicked haue inclosed me they pierced my hands and my feet He submitted himselfe to the hands of Pontius Pilate for he knew his hower was euen then com and that his kingdom was not of this world Iohn 16. otherwise as he saith his soldiers would haue fought and not had suffered him to be deliuered into the hands of men Seeing then his time was com in which all things should be fulfilled according to his fathers will he besought of his father the cup to wit of bitter anguish might passe from him and lifting vp his eies to heauen Iohn 17. said Father the hower is com glorify thy sonne that thy sonne may glorify thee When he was to be betraied by the child of perdition Iudas Psal. 110. and knew it how great was his patience when as he reprooued him not but told him What thou doest Iohn 13 27. do quickly Pontius Pilate was a Roman vnder whose hands Christ suffered shewing that as the Romanes had alwaies persecuted the lowe Ierusalem the true Church on earth so that the Lord should iustly continue his wrath in them and that they might remaine in a perpetuall curse they also persecuted him whom the world was not woorthy of the high Ierusalem the spirituall Church Which example of cruell tyranny hath euer since beene found in them and shall be doubtlesse euen to their owne destruction But they will say Pilate was commanded to crucify him againe and againe and he excused him not guilty true wherfore Pilate was so much the more guilty of his death bicause he could find no fault in him For when the power to loose one was in him and not in the Iewes Iohn 19. 10. as he said to him Knowest thou not that I haue power to crucify thee and power to loose thee to them he had tried Christ to be guiltles yet willing to deserue the applause of the Iewes and the fauor of Caesar cleane against his owne conscience to his vtter condemnation to death he loosed Barrabas a notable murtherer Acts. 3. 14. and executed that most iust king of peace and righteousnes to euerlasting life It is like this manner of cruelty will not be left among the Romans vntill a finall desolation the end of affliction come vpon them according to the prophecy of Balaam Nomb. 24. 24. Ships shall come from the coasts Kittim Lord of Italy or Romania and subdue Ashur and vanquish Heber and he to say that Kittim shall come to destruction a most plaine prophecy not yet sufficiently noted for our defence against them By Ashur
therfore in these words consisteth the perfection of the church the members of Christ which is the rock and foundation therof For had not the Iewes had a perfect warning of redemption to come through the Messiah sauiour of the world and the full meanes therof and of all that he was to perform for the saluation of mankind how could they take notice of their redemption or be iustly condemned for misbeleef for they that liued in the time of Christs humanity were to see that which their fathers hoped for If then we will further know what ought the substance of our faith to be I answer in a word Our faith ought to be the haruest of our fathers hope so that we beleeue that we haue receiued that which they hoped for so through one faith in one Iesus they and we are both saued Isai. 53. 8. Who shall declare his age for he was cut out off the land of the liuing Heer my purpose was to shew that this article might safely be vsed without aduātage to the Papists or offence to such as I before meant Therfore as we now see with our eies and beleeue that Iesus the true Christ came and finished his pilgrimage heer on earth being the only begotten sonne of God conceiued by the holy Ghost born of the virgine Mary crucified according to the prophets so what he was to do he himself declared to the fathers in spirit insomuch that they also saw their saluation by the eie of faith which they had in the same Messiah Colos. 1. 18. the first born of the dead and of al things to haue the preheminence He is the reconciliation of all the world and euen as his father spred the heauens and adorned them and created the earth and sea with all the implements so is the sonne commaunder of all and the beginning and end of all things are in his hand he is made iudge of all flesh comming as it were in the meane time to reconcile the limits and to constraine all nations to worship him He was made all one with the father the beginning of the world and the last end must ply vnto him from whom al sentence of ioy eternall or perpetuall misery shall proceed and to this end he preached in spirit long before he was incarnated Gen. 6. 3. The Lord said And my spirit shal not alwaies striue with flesh and his daies shall be an hundred and twenty yeeres 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is to say 1. Pet. 3. 19. By which also he went and preached to the spirits in prison which were somtime disobedient when the long suffering of God waited in the daies of Noah while the ark was in making Your father Abraham reioiced to see my daie Ioh. 8. 56. and he saw it and was glad Suppose saith Peter 2. Pet. 3. 15. that the long suffering of the Lord is saluation euen so our brother Paul according to the wisdom giuen to him wrote vnto you Doest thou the same Rom. 2. 3. and thinkest to escape iudgement and despisest thou the riches of his bountifulnes and patience and long sufferance not knowing that the bountifulnes of God leadeth to repentance Wherfore as by one man sinne entred into the world Rom. 5. 12. and death by sinne so death went ouer all men for vnto the time of the law was sinne in the world but sinne is not imputed while there is no law Gal. 3. 17. The law fower hundred and thirty yeeres after the promise cannot disanull the couenant God gaue the promise to Abraham but death reigned from Adam to Moses euen on them also that sinned not after the maner of Adams transgression which was as a figure of the second Adam Seeing then before the law all men were dead in sinne without any hope of iustification to eternall life it was most needfull that the Gospell should be preached vnto them 1. Pet. 4. 6. Wherupon it seemeth Saint Peter continueth his speech of preaching to this end was the Gospell preached also to the dead that they might be condemned according to men in the flesh but might liue according to God in the spirit Now this is plaine that whoso were vnder the law were condemned by the law according to the flesh By this all men vnder the law were iudged by the law But seeing the dead were before the law howbeit many righteous men to whom the promise was giuen were iustified by faith they were not to be iudged or condemned by the law but by the spirit of Christ that preached vnto them while they were in the prison of death that they might beare fruit in the resurrection also otherwise should they be born without adoption in Christ at all like as the cloudes are congealed and melt againe to nothing or as the wind passeth through the aire and no man marketh it so without law or grace should they perish without conscience which the Atheists now adaies would soon graunt But their iudgement long ago is not far off 2. Pet. 2. 3. and their condemnation sleepeth not They are wels without water and clouds caried about with a tempest to whom the black darknes is reserued for euer Now if we doubt that Christ did preach in the spirit before he came in the flesh let vs consider the Epistle of Saint Iude Iude. vers 9. where is said touching blaspheming of authority Yet Michael the Archangel Christ when he stroue against the diuell about the body of Moses durst not blame him with cursed speaking but said The Lord rebuke thee Mark then this Michael was a cheef Angell yea more than an Angell Apoc. 12. 5. as the Reuelation sheweth also There was a battell in heauen Michael and his Angels fought against the Dragon and the Dragon and his angels fought but they preuailed not neither was their place found any more in heauen And the great Dragon that old serpent called the Diuell and satan which deceiueth all the world he was euen cast into the earth and his angels were cast out with him Heer Christ the seed of the woman brused the serpents head This Michael is the man-child that was borne to rule all nations with a rod of iron Psal. 2. 9. and break them in peeces like a potters vessell Diuers times is this Michael spiritually mentioned through the old and new Testament Dan. 10. 12. Lo Michael a cheef prince holpe me and there is none that holdeth with me Dan. 10. 22. but Michael your prince Dan. 12. In that day shall Michael stand vp the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people And in the same place Lo Michael one of the cheef princes cam to help me Wherfore it is to too absurd for vs to think that a king hauing banished an offender for punishment into a most desolate place of the world to remaine there for euer would himselfe go after to obteine greater power ouer him For what
greater subiection can there be than for euer yea for euer and euer to abide a slauish vassall in all seruitude horror trembling Therfore suppose not that the Holy one saw other corruption than in flesh for he droue the prince of darknes into a corner where the sink of all corruption is Now what perfection he could draw out of this sink that he himself had cursed let the consciences of all men try and iudge and be warned with Peter that they defile not the things that the Lord hath purified and that they cleaue not so fast to corruption as to peruert the Lords waies and besot their own vnderstanding Concerning the word Apoc. 6. 8. Hell it is written Behold a pale horse and his name that sate on him was Death and Hell followed after him and power was giuen to them ouer the fourth part of the earth to kill with sword and with hunger with death and with the beasts of the earth Heer we see that our expositors plainly take Hel for the graue that is alwaies woont to follow after death Pet. 2. 13. So when the day of the Lord shall come by which the heauens being on fire shall be dissolued and the elements shall melt away with heat and a new heauen and a new earth established wherin dwelleth righteousnes Apoc. 21. 1. and the first heauen and the first earth passed away and when the Lord shall creat new heauens and a new earth and the former not remembred For Isai. 65. 19. saith the Lord as the new heauens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before me Isai. 66. 22. so shall your seed and your name continue and from moneth to moneth and from sabaoth to sabaoth shall all flesh come to worship before me saith the Lord and they shall go forth and looke vpon the carkases of men that haue transgressed for their worm shall not dy neither shall their fire be quenched and they shall be an abhorring vnto all flesh This is the miserable condition of the wicked ones the second death the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone Apoc. 2. 8. at the opening of the books the resurrection of all flesh which is to say when the sea death and Hell shall giue vp their dead Apoc. 20. 1. which are in them and they shall bee iudged according to their works then both death and Hell which haue all this while had power ouer flesh to cut it off from inheritance of this life through the curse shall at the last resurrection be vanquished to all flesh and cast into the burning lake by our Lord sauiour Iesus Christ our forerunner In this world shall the cursed endure his damnation and the happy shall feel his blessednes He that liueth in this world an hundred yeeres shall dy a yoong man neither shall any be called a child of yeers but he that buildeth in this world shall inhabit and they that plant vineyards shall eat of the fruit neither shall they plant and another eat but they shal inioy the works of their own hands and shall not be made to labour in vaine and bring foorth in fear for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord and their buds with them Yet concerning his descension remaineth this one thing he made his graue with the wicked with the â—ich in his death though he had done no wickednes neither was any deceit in his mouth Now in that it is said he made him a graue he chose him a place in the earth whereinto he vouchsafed to descend and be buried for our saluation though many wicked and rich men lay as glorious as he whom the cell of the earth was far vnworthy to conteine Dan. 12. 2. Where the many that sleep shall awake to euerlasting life and some to shame and perpetuall contempt Againe that he was buried and descended also into hell read the ancient Christian meaning of the word Hell in the example of the rich man written by Luke the Euangelist translated into Saxonish many yeeres ago which saith thus ha peand re peleza dead and paer on Hell bebynzed which is now as much as to say And the rich man died and was buried in hel I should think it very absurd therfore farther to vrge any comment or exposition for the word Hell seeing no doubt these expositors of the Gospels sufficiently vnderstood what they said in their owne language Nay whosoeuer will not yeeld vnto so plain a testimony of truth the mark of controuersie he may be thought little zealous yea obstinate in his own profession Now of such as would haue Hell to be in the earth and to meane the place of the damned and would prooue it by the word Luk. 16. 26. Gulf that was betweene Abraham and the rich man the worde in the Greek originall is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 HIATVS FISSVRA a gap or cliffe as Virgil citeth the word properly foorth of Homer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 TELLVS IMA DEHISCAT Let the earth cleaue But we vnderstand the word Gulf a concaue and a deuouring place which is hardly argued by the circumstance following seeing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signify neither vp nor downe but passing ouer as it were from shore to shore as TRANSCENDERE and TRANSRIMARE agreeing with the prophets words before recited they shall go foorth and look vpon the carcases of men c. And beside Saint Iohn proueth a further punishment to insue after death and hell which is to say the burning lake Let vs absteine therfore farther to inquire of the places which the Lord hath shut vp from vs and our vnderstanding For saith the Lord Gen 3. 22. Behold the man is becom as one of vs to know good and euill And now least he put forth his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat and liue for euer therfore the Lord God sent him foorth from the garden of Eden to till the earth whence he was taken And the Lord hath set Cherubims and the blade of a sword shaking to keep the way of the tree of life Heer we see that the iealous God excluded Adam out of the garden least he should attain to see the state of the eternall Wherfore the plaine and open things are for vs and our children to obserue and do but the secret and hidden things pertaine vnto God only The prophet Ionah was a most excellent figure of our sauiour if a man do diligently mark his prophesie 2. King 14. 25. First his name signifieth a doue in the Hebrue voice in the likenes wherof Iesus receiued the spirit of his father from heauen wher he himself confesseth Math. 3. 16. that he saw the heauens open and the spirit of God descending like a doue Psal. 74. 16. and lighting vpon him the true turtle doue whose soule the beast had neuer power of Ionah his message was to
preach so Christ Ionah willingly suffered shipwrack Iona. 1. 12. for the safety of the ship and mariners Christ willingly indured the curse for the saluation of the earth and the inhabitants therof Ionah was in the belly of the fish three daies and three nights so long was the son of man to be in the belly of the earth Ionah descended into the belly of hell for saith he I cried in mine affliction vnto the Lord and he heard me out of the belly of hel cried I and thou heardest my voice Which hel is heer nothing else but the vale of death and extreme mist of darknes wherinto our sauiour also descended for the same space Ionah arose and went to Niniueh to finish his message of preaching Christ arose likewise and ascended into heauen to consummate all his fathers will after he had once yeelded vp his spirit into his hands Math. 17. 50. and had destroied the temple of his body and built it againe in three daies Ionah had pity on the gourd for which he had not laboured neither made it grow which came vp in a night and perished in a night so dealeth Christ with his adopted members taking pity euen of the meere fruits of darknes whose beginning and end is not to be discerned of men for they abide not the light that truth loueth THE THIRD DAY HE ROSE AGAIN He walked the path of life euen to the presence of his father Psal. 16. 10. the fulnes of ioy at whose right hand are pleasures for euermore which path he hath also shewed to vs his followers whose flesh yet doth rest in hope Let vs therfore perceiuing the mortality of our vaile euen for his sake striue to enter into that path how narrow or straight soeuer it seemeth the crooked and hard waies are passed with care and fear to eternall ioy but the wide and easie waies in this life leade to destruction and pull vs hastily to condemnation and euerlasting woe in the world to come Our sauiour Christ by his power which he receiued of his father in heauen could destroy the temple and build it againe in three daies Iohn 2. 1◠as he said Destroy this temple pointing at his body and I will build it in three daies Which is a very fine and perfect exposition of the rock where he saith Thou art Peter and vpon this rock pointing to himself I will build my Church but the blind Iewes vnderstood not of what temple he spake albeit he had called it so neither will the Papists vnderstand of what rock he spake albeit it was his name long before His power was so infinite not only in framing to himselfe a new body Math. 27. but to many other that slept in the dust of the earth Dan. 12. such was his will to manifest his attractiue power to all flesh that hopeth for the resurrection in the world to com when the time of recreation of all flesh shall appeer Psal. 17. Wherfore stay our steps continually O Lord in these thy paths that our feet slide not and deliuer vs from the hands of such as haue their portion in this life Concerning his resurrection Saint Paul testifieth at large how that he died for our sinns according to the scriptures and that he was buried and rose againe the third day 1. Cor. 15. and that he was seen of Cephas then of the twelue after that he was seen of more than fiue hundred brethren at once of whom many at that time remained as a confirmation of his testimony the rest being asleep After that he was seen of Iames and then of all the Apostles and last of all of him Which chapter I intreat the diligent reader to turn to bicause it wholy concerneth this article For it prooueth the resurrection of the dead and that Christ is already risen then that we all shall rise and the manner how Wheras for me to make a new frame of the same texts adding nothing but forme to my purpose were meer arrogancy or rather as Saint Paul saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and might seem vnto the reader as the hony of one bee in comparison of a whole field of sweet flowers In many other places where the whol Psalm chapter or book cōcerneth the matter in handling I refer the reader to the ancientest testimonies therof whether it be of prophets Euangelists or Apostles which were the neerest recorders of that time FROM THE DEAD Which is to say them that sleep for whom Saint Paul willeth vs not to lament as others that are clean without hope for saith he as we beleeue that our Iesus died and rose againe so our God through Iesus will bring againe those that sleep with him for the Lord shall come downe from heauen with a showt and the voice of the Archangle 1. Thes. 4. 13. and with the trumpet of God and those that be dead shall rise first and then those which remaine aliue shall be carried vp with them in cloudes to meet the Lord in the aire and so shall we all be with the Lord. Also he taught his disciples Mark 9. 3. that he should rise againe the third day and after I am risen I will go into Galile before you Mark 14. 28. His ascension in this place is little to be spoken of bicause by his descension it hath sufficiently appeered by the contrary argument yet thus much he testifieth Iohn 7. 34. saying Whither I go you cannot in the flesh come In my fathers house are many mansions if there were not I would declare vnto you I go to prepare a place for you Let not your harts be troubled ye beleeue in God beleeue also in me Though I go to prepare a place for you I will come againe and receiue you vnto my selfe that where I am there may you also be and whither I go you know and the way you know For it is I that am the way the truth and the life No man commeth to my father but by me Iohn 14. if yee had knowen me you should had knowen my father also and from hencefoorth ye know him and haue seen him Moreouer he saith to Mary Iohn 20. 17. Touch me not for I am not yet ascended to my father but go to my brethren and say to them I ascend to my father and to your father and to my God and your God Heer he most comfortably becommeth brother vnto vs acknowledging his father and ours to be all one through his precise and faultlesse obseruation of his fathers will After that he had breathed vpon his disciples the holy Ghost Iohn 20. 22. and at the sea of Tyberias comforted them againe with his presence he was taken vp in a cloud out of their sight and while they looked stedfastly towards heauen as he went two men stood by them in white apparell Acts. 1. 9. which said Ye men of Galile why stand yee gazing into heauen This
may trust in another or one may aduaunce himselfe aboue his fellowes but the one and the other do both fall Gen. 14. 11. as when the children of Israell murmured against Moses being a man supposing the punishment to be his that was inflicted on them shewing that in their prosperitie they beleeued in him only wherefore they perished infinitely through their misbeleef for as they were obedient to man so died they in their own corruption Otherwise if man could be saued by beleeuing in man or in mans works there is not one that would be disinherited of eternall life and the promise of saluation would seem meerly friuolous Numb 20. 10. Moses and Aaron lifted vp themselues at the rock whose honor was abased by extreme punishment Gen. 10. 8. Nimrod began to be mighty vpon the earth and erected a kingdom by his owne might to wit the cities Babel Erech Accad and Calne Gen. 11. 4. all built in the land of Shinar Who said com let vs build vs a citie and a tower whose top may reach vnto heauen that we may get vs a name lest we be scattered vpon the earth He had spoken more prophetically if he had said that we may be scattered vpon the earth seeing it becam suddenly the cause of their horrible confusion so that they were made as aliens in their country and citie one not vnderstanding anothers language euen so are the arrogant depriued of their glory when their most prouident securitie turneth to destruction By this is shewed what it is to beleeue what manner of creature is bound to beleeue and who are misbeleeuers Now followeth the necessary vse of it and to what end we so constantly vse the same Vnderstand therfore that it is the ioint of all the articles of our faith nay without it can be made no effectuall article at all but all the whole speech becommeth a confused heap of faithlesse syllables By beleeuing we are discerned from Infidels and barbarous people that are as bruit beasts without any hope or knowledge our religious constancy is manifested our bond of amity and league of humane societie sealed It is the fire hammer and touch to purifie mally and try vs it is the winde that diuideth the wheat from the chaff it is a most comfortable meditation in all seasons a salue against all offences and scandals whatsoeuer A man may in his mind beleeue and not vtter it but then cannot his faith appeere vnto his brethren So that he shall becom a stumbling blocke vnto them and thus much for the very protestation of the word Now concerning the end of beleeuing it is to be saued and touching the cause why we must not beleeue in the vanity of the aboue recited powers it is that there is no safetie or saluation in them for man hath no power of his owne saluation neither is any man to put trust in the strength of his owne arme to deliuer him from death We beleeue therfore that the subiect of this our spirituall faith shal liue for euer and that the spirit that now is imprisoned in this our flesh shall mortifie our corrupt members by an vnwauering faith which before it vanisheth to fly vnto that eternall dwelling place may so sanctifie our fowl and sinfull nature that we bee made fit vessels to comprehend eternall life For seeing there is no manner of saluation with flesh wood or stone or any other thing that our earthly senses can perceiue we must inuent a thing subiect to our vnderstanding which being a college or digestion of all senses and meer spirit and life the subiect must be wholy spirituall and liuely Wher then is this subiect to be found for we see it is neither in the treasure of the earth nor in the glory of the world Let vs therfore lift vp our eies vnto heauen and behold the habitation of life the euerlasting author of spirit in all creatures The Greekes termed it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which most like commeth of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an high and prosperous wind among the heathen but in the creation it was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 where the light spirit vapor of waters remaine that seasoneth all liuing creatures in the aire This is the most excellent dwelling place of that ghostly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or euerlasting AEVVM AETAS ALTERNA or AETERNITAS SOLVM EXISTENS God All-good SVMMVM BONVM PRIMVM MOBILE the first thing that mooued the author of al things whose highest seat is heauen Aristot. de mundo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is to wit Gods highest house of the whole world is called heauen Kal. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the firmament of faith Therfore this is that eternall spirit that we are to beleeue in for it is the very issue of all things the breth of his mouth created all maintaineth all yea and destroieth all at his will him are we to worship as Lord of all who in the first toong that men spake gaue himselfe a name declaring his eternity to wit that he was alwaies one and the same Isai 41. 4. infinite without beginning or end IEHOVA who euer was only is and euer shall be whom no time changeth for a thousand yeeres with the Lord is but as one day he himself is the root of time the point therof his beginning is vnsearchable his presence vnmeasurable and his continuance euerlasting in him then we must beleeue that will be saued or delight to liue for euer and euer not liply only in words but with our whole hart and soule duly conceiuing that his infinite maiestie and power that giueth our vnderstanding matter to worke vpon before him standeth the end of all flesh the relaxation of spirit the volubility of all soules is in his power 1. Sam. 2. There is none holy as the Lord nor any God besides him or like him therfore speak no more presumptuously let not arrogancy com forth of your mouth for the Lord is a God of knowledge and by him enterprises are established The bowe and the mighty men are broken and the weake haue girded themselues with strength they that are full are hired foorth for bread and the hungry are no more hired so that the barren hath borne seuen and she that hath many children is feeble The Lord killeth and maketh aliue bringeth downe to the graue and raiseth vp the Lord maketh poor and maketh rich Psal. 113. 7. bringeth down and exalteth he raiseth vp the poor out of the dust and lifteth vp the begger out of the dunghill to set them among princes and to make them inherit the seat of glory For the pillars of the earth are the Lords and he hath set the world vpon them he will keep the feet of his saints and the wicked shall keepe silence in darknes For in his owne might shall no man be strong the Lords aduersaries shall be destroied and out of