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A43607 Syntagma theologicum, or, A treatise wherein is concisely comprehended, the body of divinity, and the fundamentals of religion orderly discussed whereunto are added certain divine discourses, wherein are handled these following heads, viz. 1. The express character of Christ our redeemer, 2. Gloria in altissimis, or the angelical anthem, 3. The necessity of Christ's passion and resurrection, 4. The blessed ambassador, or, The best sent into the basest, 5. S. Paul's apology, 6. Holy fear, the fence of the soul, 7. Ordini quisque suo, or, The excellent order, 8. The royal remembrancer, or, Promises put in suit, 9. The watchman's watch-word, 10. Scala Jacobi, or, S. James his ladder, 11. Decus sanctorum, or, The saints dignity, 12. Warrantable separation, without breach of union / by Henry Hibbert ... Hibbert, Henry, 1601 or 2-1678.; Hibbert, Henry, 1601 or 2-1678. Exercitationes theologiae. 1662 (1662) Wing H1793; ESTC R2845 709,920 522

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fourfooted beasts and creeping things For the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God Col. 2.8 for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned Therefore beware lest any man spoil you through Philosophy and vain deceit after the tradition of men after the rudiments of the world and not after Christ It is concluded then that to seek Divinity in Philosophy is to seek the living amongst the dead even as to seek Philosophy amongst Divinity is to seek the dead amongst the living For certainly it is not a natural knowledge either by the notions imprinted in mans mind whereby the conscience is convinced or by the consideration of the creatures that is sufficient unto salvation though enough to leave us without exuse But it must be the revealed knowledge that which is attained by the Word of God wherein God though he dwell in the light which none can attain unto yet hath revealed himself so far as he saw sit son us to understand We shall therefore make the written Word of God the man of our counsel in this present undertaking And seeing the Globe of Divinity parts it self into two hemispheres 1. Credenda 2. Agenda The things we are to know and believe Joh. 13.17 Objectum Theologia religio religion is Deus Armin. in disp theol Thes 1. parag 4. and the things we are to do and perform so said the Doctor of the Chair If ye know these things happy are ye if ye do them We shall have respect unto both Seeing also that the prime and chief place of Divinity is concerning God I shall begin with him who is without either beginning of days or end of life Heb. 11.6 For he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him Joh. 17.3 And this is life eternal that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent De Deo THere is no Nation under Heaven so barbarous but yields that there is a God It is much ado for Atheism to find a perfect and continual assent in mans heart Some ruines of this truth do still remain in him since the fall And although he may deny all by day his conscience will make him startle by night Protagoras doubted whether there was a God therefore was banished by the Athenians And Diagoras denied flatly that there was a God But leave we such persons to the consure of the Scripture The fool hath said in his heart There is no God The Philosophers I except not the Epicures did with one consent affirm there is a God They called him Nomine Deum Naturâ Spiritum Psal 14.1 Ordine causam primam Perfectione ens divinissimum Motione motorem primum But knew him not Hence Atheniensium Altaris inscripto Deo ignoto Arguments to prove there is a God viz. 1. Consent of the Heathen and confession of all Nations 2. Instinct of nature and natural propensity to worship a God 3. Confession of Atheists themselves 4. Difference and conscience of good and evil received of all 5. The Creation of the World great and little 6. His Providence and the order of things 7. His judgements over some particular men Quid est totus m●ndus nisi Dèus explicatus Kingdoms and Common-wealths especially the four Monarchies Quiequid vides quicquid non vides Deus est Whatsoever thou seest and whatsoever thou seest not is God That is all things visible and invisible do express unto thee a Deity and lead thee as by the hand to contemplate heavenly spiritual and eternal things God is known Ex postico tergo lices non ex ●●tieâ ●a●is By his effects adextra though not his Essence ad intra Seculum est speculum Ramus the creation of the world is a glass Rom. 1.20 wherein saith St. Paul we may behold his eternal power and Godhead Which the Divine Poet Paraphrastically Du Bart. The World 's a School where in a general Story God alway reads dumb Lectures of his Glory Every simple man that cannot read may notwithstanding spell that there is a God St. Austin having gone thorow all creatures Solil●quiis and seeing in them the Characters of the God-head imprinted and seriously inquiring of them for God Not one or two but all made him this answer with an audible voice Non sum ego sed per ipsum sum ego quem quaris in me I am not he but by him I am whom thou seekest in me It was a good Speech of him who being asked What God was answered Si scirem Deus essem If I knew that I should be a God It far exceedeth the reach of reason and is above created capacity we may stand at gaze and be agast and that is the nearest that we poor finite foolish creatures can approach towards the comprehension of so infinite a Being Dei nomen mirabile nomen Dionysius Omnium supremus altissimorum altissimus Isa 57.17 super omne nomen sed sine nomine Deus est circulus cujus centrum est ubique circumferentia verò nusquam As God is without quality so without quantity Altior est coelo profundior inferno latior terrâ mari diffusior Nusquam est ubique est Deus magnus est sed sine quantitate bonus sed sine qualitate at verò à nobis magnum sine quantitate bonum sine qualitate directe plenè concipi est impossibile Contine● omnia tamen non continetur ab aliquo Three ways the Schools mention of knowing of God or rather somthing of God Per viam 1. Causalitatis The prime supreme and universal cause of all good whatsoever 2. Eminentiae Attributing to God whatsoever perfection or worth is in any or all the creatures And that as being in him after a more eminent manner 3. Remotionis When denying of him whatever imperfection and defect is observable in the creature A taste of all these the Apostle giveth us 1 Joh. 1.5 This then is the message which we have heard of him and declare unto you That God is light and in him is no darkness at all It is subtilly observed by Picus Mirandula That in the Creation of the world God gave the water to the fishes the earth to the beasts the air to the fowls heaven to the Angels And after all these were bestowed he made man according to his own likeness and image That he might say with the Prophet Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee Aug. Tract in Johan Si esuris panis tibi est si sitis aqua tibi est si in tenebris es lumen est c. Habet omnia qui habet habentem omnia 1 Cor. 8.5 6. For though there be that are called whether in heaven or in earth as there be gods
bound giving life to others losing his own being crucified slew Satan on the Cross and through death destroyed the Devil the Authour of destruction There is but one only Saviour because the Gospel proclaims it One only way to salvation whereby Abraham became righteous and the Patriarchs Apostles and Prophets entred Heaven One Lord one Faith one Baptism In him alone was fulfilled all that was spoken of the Messiah He only satisfied Gods Justice by a punishment which could be infinite for so is God or equal to infinite for so was Christ though for time finite yet for value infinite which no other Creature ought not could ought not if it be not the soul that sinned could not because Gods wrath is unquenchable Angels could not do it they are incarnate and finite our selves could not we are carnal sold under sin He alone was God and Man 1. Man that sin might be punished in the nature offending yet man without sin to fulfill all righteousness 2. God 1. To bear the burden of Gods wrath 2. To vanquish sin death hell and Satan 3. To restore life and righteousness to Man He must be Man for Mans Redemption but not sinful Man for Mans salvation He alone could perform the Office of a Saviour internally and externally 1. Internally illuminating our minds with faith hope and charity 2. Externally in Doctrine and Works He alone took away the sins of the World His blood alone was paid to God the Father as the price of our Redemption God only was our Creditor ours the debt and Jesus the Pay-master who gave himself for us to God and blotted out the hand-writing that was against us The Devils ordinary way of driving to despair is by shewing a man his sin but not his Saviour Joseph of Arimathea first begged the body of Jesus and then laid it in a new Sepulchre so should we and then lay him in a new heart If a man will have his Beloved he must part with his Beloved if he will have his beloved Saviour he must part with his beloved sin Dulce nomen Jesus In Cant. Serm. 15. sayes Bernard Mel in ore melos in aure jubilus in corde Honey in the mouth melody in the ear joy and exultation in the heart Melius mihi non esse Medit. Cap. 39. sayes Austin quàm sine Jesu esse melius est non vivere quàm vivere sine vitâ I had rather be in Hell with Jesus than in Heaven without Jesus if it were possible Joshua which was a Type of Christ hath the same name with our Saviour Christ yet in a diverse manner Joshua was a Saviour for them in temporal things Christ in spiritual and eternal things He saved them from the Canaanites earthly enemies Christ from sin death hell and Satan spiritual enemies He gave them a Land flowing with milk and honey in this World Christ gives us an everlasting habitation a celestial Paradise in the World to come She shall bring forth a Son Matth. 1.21 and thou shalt call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins 1 Thes 1.10 Jesus which delivered us from the wrath to come Neither is there salvation in any other Acts 4.12 for there is none other name under Heaven given among men whereby we must be saved Let it be here noted that the very name Jesuite savoureth of blasphemous arrogancy One of their own gives the reason because our Saviour hath communicated unto us the thing signified by the name Christ but not by the name Jesus But we see also their nature in their 1. Craft and 2. Cruelty The Jesuites have a device at this day in handling Texts of Scripture by their nice distinctions to perplex and obscure the clearest places and for those that are doubtful not at all to distinguish or illustrate them Again in points of controversie they make a great puther about that which we deny not but say little or nothing to the main business Besides how have they formerly for a long time shut or rolled up the Book of the holy Scriptures yea and cast them under foot using in the mean time the Fathers Scholasticks In primâ regulâ tradunt Papae Romani vocem no● aliter ac Christi Sermonem audiendam esse Sententiaries Canonists Legends c. And since this Book of God began again to be opened how have they laboured to roll it up again questioning the Authority thereof not accounting the same to be Divine but as it is confirmed by the judgment of the Church that is of the pope For thus they expresly write That in it there is so much of the Deity as the Popes Church attributes unto it neither ought God to be believed but because of the Church A Jesuite hath peace in his mouth war in his heart He courteth with the smooth tongue of an Harlot when either he hath poyson in his cup or Powder-plots in his head They say their weapons are prayers and tears but see the contrary The truth is they are the Popes Blood-hounds Simulata sanctitas duplex iniquitas trusting more to the prey than to their prayers They strive under pretence of long prayers and dissembled sanctity which is double iniquity to subdue all to the Pope and the Pope to themselves These shall receive the greater damnation Matth. 23.14 The name Christ signifieth Anointed the oyle wherewith he was anointed is called the oyle of gladness Kimchi Quia totus mundus in unctione Christi ejus missione laetabitur because the whole World should be cheared up by the Unction and Mission of Messiah He received the Spirit without measure that of his fulness we might all receive and grace for grace righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost That none of any Degree Calling Condition or Countrey are excluded from partaking of Christ it is well taken notice of that the place of Christs Birth was Domus publici juris not a private House but an Inne which is open for all Passengers and that not in a Chamber but the Stable which is the commonest place of the Inne Besides the Superscription upon his Cross was written in Hebrew Greek Cyril Theoph. and Latine the three languages that were best known and most used all the World over Moreover the Cross it self was erected not within the City but without the Gate to intimate saith Leo Vt Crux Christi non Templi effet Ara Leo. sed Mundi That it was not an Altar of the Temple but the World However this we are sure is Gods Truth That there is neither Jew nor Greek there is neither bond nor free there is neither male nor female but all are one in Christ Jesus Gal. 3.28 Christ is the Way the Truth and the Life 1. Via in Exemplo Bern. 2. Veritas in Promisso 3. Vita in Praemio Jesus Christ the same yesterday and to day and for ever Hebr. 13.8 Christ is idem
whithersoever he pleaseth to appoint them and that they drop upon the Earth by little and little to make it fruitful this is a wonderful work of God This duly weighed were enough to convince an Atheist and should bring us to the knowledge of his power wisdom and goodness He bindeth up the Waters in his thick clouds Job 26.8 cap. 36.29 and the cloud is not rent under them Can any understand the spreadings of the clouds Rain Est fluxus humidae nubis Great rain is called Nimbus small rain Imber qu● à calore solis paulatim soluta aquam guttatins è media aeris regione demittit It is the flux of a moist Cloud which being dissolved by little and little by the heat of the Sun lets down Rain by drops out of the middle region of the Air. This is reckoned and rightly among the marvellous works of God 1. Marvellous power in causing and giving rain 2. Wonderful goodness in thereby cooling refreshing and nourishing all earthly living creatures So that we may say In every drop of rain there is an Ocean of wisdom power goodness and bounty The Rabbins have a saying That Rain is the husband of the earth because those showers foecundate the earth and make the great Mother of Plenty fruitful in bringing forth all things useful and comfortable for the use of Man Who giveth rain upon the earth and sendeth waters upon the fields Job 5.10 Cap 28 26. Cap. 36.27 28 He made a Decree for the rain For he maketh small the drops of water they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof which the clouds do drop and distill upon man abundantly Rain-bowe It is the effect of the Sun shining against a cloud Thauman is filiam dixere Iridem Poetae Colores ejus tam exacti ut vix artificis possit exprimer● manus and is Nuntius foederis serenitatis the Angel of Gods Covenant and of fair weather It is Signum gratiae foederis a sign of grace and of the Covenant of mercy and therefore alwayes fresh and green about Christs throne of grace Revel 4.3 c. 10.1 Ezek. 1.28 It is very likely that from the beginning it was in its causes which are clouds and the shining of the Sun and those causes did sometimes produce the effects before this time and so it is like it was often seen before the flood But now God made choice of it for a sign of his Covenant with the world that there should be no more an universal flood as before there was This Bowe was most proper to be a sign of Gods Covenant and in it there are many wonders For the former 1. Because of the place which is in the clouds of heaven whence came the rain that drowned the world before Ambros 2. It is there planted as if man were shooting at God and not God at man Besides of Gods bow we read but not of his arrows 3. It appeareth commonly with rain that so where men might begin to fear the judgement they may take comfort against it For the latter 1. The beautiful shape and various colours Plin. N. H. lib. 12. c. 24. The waterish colours signifying the former overthrow of the world by water The fiery the future judgement of the world by fire The green that present grace of freedom from both 2. Where it toucheth upon any shrubs it leaveth a sweet and fragrant smell behind 3. It hath in it two contrary significations Scaliger viz. of rain and fair-weather of this in the evening of that in the morning Adde whereas naturally it is a sign of rain yet it is turned by God into a sure sign of dry weather Let us learn to look upon it not only in the natural causes Tam Dei meminiss opus est quàm respirare Bern. but as a Sacramental sign of the Covenant of grace and a Monument of Gods both justice in drowning the world and mercy in conserving it from the like calamity I do set my how in the cloud Gen. 9.13 14. Job 37.15 and it shall ●e for a token of a Covenant between me and the earth And it shall come to pass when I bring a cloud over the earth that the bow shall be seen in the cloud He caused the light of his cloud to shine Winde Est exhalatio sicca copiosa à terrâ sursum tendens qu● ordinatione Dei repressa ab occurrente nube frigidâ in mediâ region● a●rit succedente novâ exhalatione per aërem oblique propulsâ lateraliter in locum opposi●um loco unde flare incipit fertur The wind in the nature of it is an exhalation arising from the earth drawn upwards by the power of the Sun and other heavenly bodies Ventus à violentiâ vehementiá nomen habet quòd veniat abundè magnâ vi i●●uat in unum aliquem locum Magir. Phys but meeting and conflicting a while with the cold of the middle region of the air is beaten back again And being so light that naturally it cannot descend and so resisted that it cannot peaceably ascend it takes a course between both slanting with mighty violence through the air Much of God may be seen in the winds for it is he alone who holdeth them in his fist hideth them in his treasures rideth upon them as his Chariot and checks them at his pleasure Yea God weigheth them in a balance and when they seem to blow where they list piercing through the air with their violent blasts God sets them their bounds and appoints them their proportion Hence is that phrase of making the weight for the Winds Job 28.25 He bringeth the Wind out of his treasuries Psa 135 7. Psal 104.3 Joh. 3.8 Who walketh upon the wings of the Wind. The wind bloweth where it listeth and thou hearest the sound thereof but canst not tell whence it cometh not whither it goeth Nos motum sensimus modum nescìmus Hail Est pluvia in aëre inter descendendum conglatiata propter antiperistasin aëris calidi frigiditate naturali●sese contrahente The broad flowing water of the clouds by the force of the cold is narrowed up into hail Hast thou seen the treasures of the hail Job 38.22 23. Which I have reserved against the time of trouble against the day of battel and war Snow Many wonders there are in snow as that it should be made in the lowest part of the air and not above where it is coldest that it should snow upon the earth but never upon the Sea if Pliny may be believed that snow should lie continually not only upon the Alps but upon Mount Aetna where fire flames out that it serves for a cover to preserve earth's heat though it self be cold that being white it should sometimes bring forth red worms c. It is compared to wooll Psal 147.16 for whiteness lightness plenty softness warmth for though it be very cold yet by keeping in the vapours and exhalations
of Christendome with their continual intelligence is thought to advise most of that mischief which the Turks put in execution against us I omit what Authors report of them concerning the judgement of God upon their bodies that they are to this day a nasty people much addicted to the leprosie Hence that fable in Tacitus that the Israelites were driven out of Egypt Symmâ D●i bonitate id factum est nè populos ad lepram proclives animal leprosissimum magis ac magis infestaret Theat Nat. p. 354. for that lothsome disease Mind Bodinus his observation He observes it for a special providence of God that in Arabia which bordereth upon Judea there are no swine to be found lest that most leprous creature saith he should more and more infest and infect that people who are naturally subject to the leprosie And therefore some have thought they were forbidden to eat Swines-flesh and Hares-flesh because in diseased bodies it easily turnes to ill humours They are so despicable a people for their unexpiable guilt in crucifying Christ that they are therefore banished as it were out of the world by a common consent of Nations Yea the very Turks themselves so hate them Iudaus sim si fallo that they use to say in detestation of a thing I wish I might die a Jew if so and so But chiefly Gods judgement for their unbelief is upon their mindes as may be read at large Rom. 11. Whence we may observe Note that God in his just judgment gives over such as are enemies to the Gospel to the Devil to be blinded that they cannot convert This is a fearful estate But yet for all this before the end of the world they shall be called That Nation lies under many promises Therefore it is our duty not to despise them nor despaire of their conversion but to pray for them as they did for us when we had no breasts Cant. 8.8 The natural Branches Rom. 11.21 Gentiles Great was the knowledge of the Heathen sages witness the seven wise men of Greece Archimedes of Syracuse who had a name and fame saith Plutarch 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not of humane but of a kinde of divine wisdome So had Socrates so had Apollonius of whom Philostratus saith Non doctus sed natus sapiens that he was not taught but born a wise man These all were the worlds wizards but what came they to Lactantius truly telleth us in the name of the whole community of Christians That all the wisdome of a man consisteth in this Instit l. 3. c. 30. to know God and worship him aright But this they never attained unto The Tyrians had an hand in building the Temple the molten sea stood upon twelve oxen which looked towards East West North and South The new Jerusalem hath twelve gates A. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 D. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 M. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To shew that there is every way accesse for all sorts to Christ who is also fitly called the second Adam the Greek letters of which name as Cyprian observeth do severally signifie all the quarters of the earth He was born in an Inne to shew that he receives all commers His garments were divided into four parts to shew that out of what part of the world soever we come Christ is willing to entertain us Jether an Ishmaelite may become an Israelite and Araunah the Jebusite may be made an exemplary Profelyte The Gentiles saith one were converted by vertue of this prayer Gen. 9.27 as Paul was by Stephens But this text Mal. 1.11 the perverse Jews could never abide to hear of nor can they to this day And therefore it is that they have in their expositions basely depraved it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and corrupted the true sense of it Calling us still Goi Mamzer bastard Gentiles Let us pity and pray for them as Isa 25.7 8. And let us praise God who hath made us Gentiles meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light Col. 1.12 And take heed we sin not away our light causing God to take his Kingdom from us and give it to a Nation bringing forth the fruits thereof God shall perswade Japhet Gen. 9.27 and shall dwell in the tents of Shem. Countrey A mans native countrey is pleasant and sweet to all Nos patriae fines dulcia linquimus arva Nos patriae sines Nescio quâ natale solum dulcedine cunctos ducit immemores non sinit esse sui Vlysses was very desirous to see the smoke of his countrey Shall I leave my countery that hath been as a mother to bring me into the world and to nourish me in it A man in conscience by the law of Nature is bound to his own countrey But this world is not our countrey Socrates is highly commended for his answer Omne solum sorti patria est being demanded what countrey man he was he answered 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mundanus the world is my countrey all countreys are alike to me Yet in truth we have no countrey in the world Heaven properly to speak is our countrey and we must seek it Desire a better countrey Heb. 11.16 that is an heavenly Signes Signum est quod seipsum seu sui praeter se aliquid animo repraesentat There are signs 1. Of Gods wrath such are prodigious events 2. Of his power such are Miracles 3. Of his grace such are Sacraments For irreverent using of good means Vzziah was smitten with leprosie Fifty thousand Bethshemites for looking irreverently into the Ark which was a sign of mercy These signes of mercy proved means of misery Signa sunt triplicia 1. Memorativa quae praeteritum aliquid in memoriam reducunt Hujusmodi voluit Deus esse Irieum 2. Demonstrativa quae praesentia monstrant Vt fumus ignem 3. Prognostica quae futura praenunciant ut varius solis color dum occidit Juxta illud Poetae Caeruleas pluvias denunciat igneus Eurus As God hath given us signes and foretokens of a tempest so hath he also of an ensuing judgement and blames those that take not notice thereof sending them to school to the Stork and Swallow Jerem. 8.7 If Elias see but a cloud as an hand arising from Carmel he can tell that great store of rain will follow that the whole heaven will anon be covered Many prodigies there were before the last desolation of Jerusalem A terrible tempest at Rome the same year that Luther began to stir Blood raining at Brixia in Italie in the year 874. for three dayes and three nights c. Gods signes have a voice and words speaking both to our eyes and ears A prudent man foreseeth the evil not by divination or star-gazing but by a judicious collection and connection of causes and consequents As if God be the same that ever as holy just powerful c. If sinne be
In the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge saith David Psal 57.1 By this he doth understand Gods safeguard protection and Providence The metaphor is borrowed from the Hen whose wings in three things especially resemble Gods high and holy hand 1. The wings of the Hen nourish and brood her chickens Even so the Lord said unto Jerusalem How often Would I have gathered thy children together even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings Matth. 23.37 2. They serve to defend them from tempest and storm So God is a refuge against the tempest of affliction and a shadow against the heat of persecution Isa 25.4 3. They serve to protect the chickens from the Kite that hovereth over them and would fain devour them even so God delivereth his children from the share of Nimrod the great hunter that is from the subtil temptations of the Devil who walketh about seeking whom he may devour The Hen feareth not only the Eagle and the ravenous sowles but she runs away if she see so much as the shadow We must take care and shun even the very shadow of sin the least occasion of being catcht with those wicked fowles of the aire He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most high Psal 91.1 shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty Pleasure As in the immoderate use of all things Voluptates commendat ratior usus Horat. there is a satiety which breedeth a disliking and distast of them So it is in pleasures being not by any means more commended than by their novelties and seldom use otherwise they are glutting The pleasures of the body are continual sorrow one ever doth accompany the other When Jupiter as the Poets fain could not accord pleasure and sorrow in a difference that they brought before him he bound them together with an adamantine chain and indissolveable knot There is a species of this pleasure called affection which oftentimes starves the mind to feed the senses as being too impartial yea oftentimes starves some of the senses themselves to glut others The Antidote against this Generatio unius corruptio alterius is to curb by ver●ue this breeder of pleasures affection Pleasure and profit are the two bodies that man labours to adorn and what is pleasure but the adulterate brat of the senses so sading that she will not last while her picture is a drawing if memory did not preserve her What lasting is that which at longest is but an Ephimerides one dayes age And what excellency is that which the most excellent do abhor and discard The pleasures of this world are full of the stain of sin and sting of guilt It is wittily fabled by the Ancients Voluptas dolor ideo conjungantur quia sunt finguntur saltem Gemellos Hippocratis esse that Mars was then taken by Vulcans entrapping nets when he gave himself to pleasures with Venus Hannibal and his souldiers being entangled by the beauty of women were enfeebled by the pleasures of Capua Antonius with Gleopatra both most valiant Captains but by reason of their lust lost most admirable a●chievements Lust is the bane of Kingdoms Non tan●um ab hostibus armatis periculum est quantum a circumfusis voluptatibus Scipio ad Amicum The Heathens acknowledge the first place to be given to prety A wise Polititian amongst the things that are required to the felicity and integrity of a Republique gives the first place to the care of Religion and Piety For it is true that Mercurius Trismegistus affirms 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Godlinesse and Religion is the foundation of all publique things God did not cast man out of one Paradice that he might make himself another To live like the people of Tombutum in Affrica who are said to spend their whole time in singing and dancing Voluptas pecudibus summum bonum It is not good for men to take pleasure in pleasure The heart of man is not so much quieted in those things which it hath Sapi●nti vera voluptas est v●luptatis contemptus Non tantum gaudet in iis quae habet quantum tristatur ob ea quae desunt Greg. Nys in Ec. Hom. 5. as it is tormented for those things which it hath not For pleasure is not a thing belonging unto them who are quiet but to those who are tossed and tumbled and full of disquietnesse and as a flame is continually moved and never suffers the soul to rest but rather like a madnesse carries it uncessantly from one thing to another Tully enveig●ing against Verres saith Vix extra tectum vix extra lictum He was ever whoring or drinking Mention is made of a Gallant addicted to uncleannesse who having enjoyed his fleshly desires of a beautiful dame found her in the morning to be the dead body of one that he had formerly sinned with which had been acted by the Devil all night surely he had but a cold armsul of her at length and if God had given grace it might have brought him to better courses Pleasures are Syrens that deceive us all we are all too greedy of them yet there be two soure sauces that may make us loath them Heb. 11.27 1. For the most part they be sinful the Pitch and Tarre of sin cleaves to them Riches seeme pleasant things to us yet they be thorns to prick us and snares to entagle us Meat and Drink Corn and Wine are pleasant things yet they often breed surfeiting and drunkennesse Silver and Gold are pleasant things yet are they as thieves to steal away our hearts from God and as plummets of lead to drown us in perdition if we look not about us 2. We can enjoy them but for a season And who would live in all jollity here for an hour and fry in hell world without end Let us rather make Moses his choyce it s better to have Lazarus his pains and go to heaven than all Dives his pleasures and go to hell Damned Satan that with Orphean ayres and dextrous warbles Quicqnid feceris honestum cum labore labor abit honestam Manet Quicquid feceris turpe cum vo luptate voluptas abit turpitudo Manet Cato Jam. 5.5 leads poor souls to the flames of hell I and then with contempt derides them How infinitely are men abused with what Masques and triumphs are they led to destruction Foolishly besorted degenerate and mad that having often experimented his juglings will yet beleeve his fictions He in his baits hides all he knows will scare them and presents whatsoever may delight them But alas the punishment that follows this is far more grievous than the pleasure was delightful Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth and been wanton ye have nourished your hearts as in a day of slaughter Vanity Austin speaking of Homer saith of him that Dulcissimè vanus est Cocfes l. 1. c. 14. And delivering his judgment of what Virgil writes of in comparison of Scripture faith
Nonne illa omnia fumus ventus the like may be said of all worldly things Sin hath hurled confusion over the world and brought a vanity on the creature This our first parents found and therefore named their second son 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Conflitutus firmus fixus i● hâc vita Trem. Annot. Abel or Vanity And David comes after and confirmes it Psal 144.4 Man is like to vanity yea Omnis Adam est totus Abel every man when he is best underlaid or setled upon his best bottome is altogether vanity When God cursed the ground it was thornes and thistles shall it bring forth to thee Even so there is nothing but pricking vanity and vexation in all worldly enjoyments Vanity hath two things in it whereof the one may seem quite contrary to the other It hath emptinesse in it and it hath fulnesse in it It hath emptinesse of comfort and fulnesse of vexation That is vain 1. Which is unprofitable 2. Which hath no solidity in it 3. Which is alwayes moving varying and unsetled But that 's the right vanity vanity with vexation of spirit There is Vanitas 1. Mutabilitatis Hug. de Sanct. Vict. in Eccl. 2. Curiositatis 3. Mortalitatis Prima vanitas naturalis est apta sive congrua Secunda vanitas culpabilis est quia perversa Tertia vanitas Penalis misera Prima causa est peccati Secunda peccatum tertia pana peccati Vanity is gradual saith one There is vain and a vainer vanity and there is the vaniest vanity according to that Eccles 1.2 upon which Chrysostom faith Hune versiculum si saperent qui in petestate sunt in Parietibus omnibus in vestibus scriberent in foro in domo in januis in ingressibus an●● omnia in conscientiis suis ut semper eum oculis cernerent corde sentirent The things here below Non esuri●ntes animas sed esuriem ipsam pascunt animarum Bern. Quemadmodum amygdalae dicuntur inanes non in quibus nibil est sed in quibus id quod inest est inutile c. Clem. Alex Epist Psal 4.2 they do not feed our hungry souls but rather the hunger of our souls They are said to be vain Quia possidentes non ad juvant And vexation of spirit Quia quaerentes affligunt Almonds are said to be empty not because there is nothing in them but because that which is in them is unprofitable and to no use So likewise the things of this world are said to be vanity are said to be nothing because how great soever they may be in their earthly magnitude how glorious soever in their temporary bravery yet they are of no use for the procuring of true good unto man no way profitable for the establishing of mans happinesse I conclude with Bernard Appetitus vanitatis est contemptus veritatis Quid vanius quam deligere vanitatem Quid iniquius quam contemnere veritatem O ye sons of men how long will ye love vanity and seek after leasing Perfection A man may be said to be perfect 1. Comparatively 2. Conceitedly A man in this life cannot be perfect the flesh will warre against the spirit and we like Jacob all the time of this pilgrimage halt of one legge though there be one member in us mundum there will be another mundandum The Ark of the Covenant was but a cubit and an half high so were likewise the wheels of the Caldron Now we know that a Cubit and an half is but an unperfect measure which shews that no man in this life is perfectly perfect We cannot climb up to the highest stair of perfection in this world we must be climbing all the dayes of our lives Paul was wrapt into the third heaven yet he professeth he was not yet perfect Though with Moses we have been brought up in all the learning of the Egyptians though we be as perfect Scribes in the Law of God as Ezra as eloquent and mighty in Scripture as Apollos though we have as many tongues as Paul who spake with tongues more than they all did yet we are but scholars and must be learning of our part so long as we live we must be carried on still to perfection We must be as travellars that are ever walking and going on never resting till we come unto our journey's end which will not be till death it self come Our Saviour himself as he was man did grow up in wisedome Nazianzen observeth of them that were famous among the Heathen Solonis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nostra siqus ●umilis justitia recta so●sitan sed non pura covetousnesse Socratis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 loving of boyes Platenis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gulosity Diogenis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 scurrility So we may say of all Christians they have one blemish or another Noah had a stain of drinking Abraham of dissembling Peter of denial of Christ Paul and Barnabas of contention As the Psalmist saith Aug. Contr. duas Epist Pelag. 1.3 c. 7. there is none good no not one so there is none perfect no not one The vertue that is in a just man Hactenus perfecta nominatur ut ad ejus perfectionem pertineat etiam ipsius imperfectionis inveritate agnitio in humilitate confessio There is not the best man or woman on the face of the earth but it is an easy matter to spie an hole in their coat All those worthies cited Hebr. 11 had their blemishes never a one of those Roses but had their pricks Gideon beside many wives had a Concubine he made an Ephod that was an occasion of idolatry and made Israel to sin Barac was a saint-hearted souldier Sampson defiled himself with many strumpets Jepthe was very rash and inconsiderate David was tainted with two horrible sins Samuel as it seemeth was something negligent in looking to his children No Prophet but had some weaknesse being all as James speaks of Elias subject to the same infirmities that we are yet they were faithful men greatly honoured by God Almighty Shew me a garden without weeds and a man without imperfections If ye will have perfect men ye must go to heaven for them there be none to be found upon earth Peter Paul Thomas all the Apostles had their imperfections Yet some profane wretches there be like Cham if they find never so small a slip in a godly man they are ready to laugh at it Scatent ipsi luneribas objiciunt illis Sicatrices Whereas there is not the best man but treadeth his shoe awry We should rather weep than rejoyce at it Therefore when any of the Saints of God are said in Scripture to be perfect Comparate non abso●e it is spoken not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not simply and absolutely but comparatively As an old beaten souldier may be said to be a perfect warrier in comparison of a fresh-water souldier Voto conata Or they
natural desire shrinks and pulls back the hand because Nature seeks the preservation of it self But the reasonable desire saith rather than the whole body shall be consumed he will command the Chyrurgeon to cut off the hand Here is no repugnancie betwixt the natural and reasonable desire but a subordination Again A Martyr is carried to the stake to be burnt the natural desire shrinks but yet it submits it self to the spiritual desire which cometh on and saith Rather than dishonor God go to the fire and be burnt The Schoolmen say Nam pereunte uno desiderio suceedit alterum that Desires are not actually infinite because Nature tends always to some finite thing for no man desireth infinite meat Yet his desires are infinite by succession because these bodily things which we desire are not permanent Thus one desire being gone another comes in place of it It is better to moderate Desire at the first than afterwards to prescribe it a measure Let Desire be conversant about right objects He that pants after the dust of the earth shall always be indigent crying continually with the two daughters of the Horse-leech Give give But he that truly desires after Righteousness shall be satisfied Whosoever shall drink of this water John 4.13 14. shall thirst again But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst Desertion It 's said of the Lioness that she seems to leave her young ones till they have almost killed themselves with roaring and howling but at last gasp she relieves them whereby they become the more couragious And Mothers use to leave their children or turn their backs upon them till they mourn and make moan after them Even so the Lord withdraws sometimes from his people and goes from them that with the Prodigal they may come to themselves and seems to forget them that they may remember themselves In Christs desertion there was not Divulsio unionis but Suspensio visionis He cried not out of Men or Devils why they did so and so unto him But My God my God why hast thou for saken me Oh! that came neer his heart In such a forlorne condition as this a poor Soul for regaining of his God can do no more than 1. Bewail the want of Gods gracious presence As Reuben for Joseph Heu quid agam I cannot find my God and I whither shall I go 2. Cry after him in fervent prayer As Elisha after Elijah My father my father Return O Lord how long and let it repent thee concerning thy servant 3. Wait his leisure if he please to hold off longer Sustaining himself with cordial places of Scripture Isa 50.10 cap. 64.4 cap. 30.18 In which estate should he be taken away by death his condition is like to be comfortable because the Spirit of Truth saith Blessed are all they that wait for him Epiphanius telleth of a bird Charadius But what joy at the breaking forth of the Sun after an Eclipse that being brought into the room where a man lieth sick if he look with a steady and fixed eye upon the sick man he recovereth Certainly in Gods favour is life but Aversio vultus Dei the turning away of Gods pleased countenance is the cause of all sorrow and sadness When he hideth his face Job 34.29 who then can behold him Thou didst hide thy face and I was troubled Psal 30.7 Calamity It was an easie thing said Bishop Hooper to hold with Christ Calamita● virtutis occasio est whiles the Prince and the World held with him but now the World hateth him it is the true trial who be his Let us not then run away when it is most time to fight Remember none are crowned but they that fight manfully You must now turn all your cogitations from the peril you see and mark the felicity that followeth the peril either victory of your enemies in this world or else a surrender for ever of your right in the inheritance to come He calls the World the Miln and Kitchin Idem to grind and boil the flesh of Gods people in till they atchieve their perfection in the World to come The World saith one is not a Paradise but a Purgatory to the Saints It may be compared to the straits of Magellan which is said to be a place of that nature Heyl. Geogr. that which way soever a man bend his course he shall be sure to have the wind against him They may not here dream of a delicacy In the world ye shall have tribulation but be of good cheer Joh. 16.33 I have overcome the world Quatuor Novissima Mors. DEath Judgment Heaven and Hell are the Quatuor Novissima Discrimen inter beatos post resurrectionem primos parentes in statu innocentiae homines in statunaturae lapsae in quo nunc sumus est Quòd beati nunquam mori poterunt primi parentes poterant nunquam meri hemines in statu nature lapsae non possunt non mori The decree is out Fort●sse in omnibus si mè rebus bumanis s●d non in morte locum habet Bellarm. Resistitur ignibus undis serro resistitur regibus imperi●s venit una m●rs quis eiresistit Aug. Non torquate genus non te sacundia non te restituet pietas Horat. l. 4. Lex universa jubet n●s●i mori Senec. All must die Belshazzar's Emblem is upon every wall Mene mene tekel upharsin Yea this impress is upon all flesh Numeravit appendit divisit God hath numbred thy days he hath laid thee on the ballance and thou art found wanting thy Kingdom is divided Say Princes say Pesants say all Corruption thou art my father Worms ye are my sisters Grave thou are my bed Sheet thou art my shrine Earth thou art my cover Green grass thou art my carpet Death demand thy due and thou Gatheringhost-Dan come last and sweep all away Epictetus went forth one day and saw a woman weeping for her Pitcher of earth that was broken and went forth the next day and saw a woman weeping for her son that was dead and thereupon said Heri vidi fragilem frangi hodie vidi mortalem mori Life is but a sleep a shadow a bubble a vapour and as a tale that is told Aristotle spake these words at his death I rejoyce that I go out of the World which is compounded of contraries Because each of the four Elements is contrary to other therefore how can this Body compounded of them long endure Plato treating of the Souls of men could say The merciful Father made them soluble and mortal bands meaning indeed they should not always be held with the miseries of this life Death reigned from Adam to Moses And though Death shall not reign yet it shall live fight and prevail from Moses to the end of the world for then and not till then shall be brought to pass that saying that is written Death is swallowed
discharge their Canon-shot that the roaring of the one may lessen the terror of the other In like sort Satan hangs tinkling cymbals in our ears and delights us with the musick and vanities of this world that we may forget the sonnd of the last Trumpet There is a threefold Judgment saith Aquinas 1. Discussionis 2. Condemnationis 3. Absolutionis It 's good for every man to judge himself in the two first He must examine himself and upon examination condemn himself The certainty of Judgment may teach us not to be too curious or careless It is a kind of sacriledge to pry into Gods holy place his secret Sanctuary Non judicium luti sed figuli To determine who shall be saved and who shall be damned is not belonging to the Clay but the Potter in whose power it is to make of the same lump one vessel of honor another to dishonor Austin desired to see three things especially viz. 1. Rome in her glory 2. Paul in the Pulpit 3. Christ in the flesh So let us desire three things 1. The conversion or else confusion of Rome and Babylon 2. The consolation of Israel and all Gods chosen 3. The coming of Christ not in the flesh but unto Judgment Oh that happy and merry Day Act. Mon. said Robert Samuel Martyr It is called Eternal Judgment Heb. 6.2 Because 1. It is of things eternal Eternal life or eternal death 2. The Sentence of that Judgment is eternal Elect and Reprobate go eternally to the place appointed 3. The Judge is Eternal 4. The persons judged are eternal some to enjoy eternal happiness and some to suffer eternal punishment The Judgment it self is not eternal it lasteth not ever but the fruit and event of it is eternal Oh that the cogitation of this Judgment were deeply fixed in the hearts of us all Momentaneum est quod delectat aeternum quod cruciat What shall the Fornicator get enduring an ocean of torture for a drop or dram of pleasure The total sum is The breach of all the Commandments If these Accounts be not crost in this life we shall never have our Quietus est in the life to come The times of ignorance God winked at Act. 17.30 31. but now commandeth all men every where to repent Because he hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained whereof he hath given assurance unto all men in that he hath raised him from the dead Eternal Life Electra in Senec. movet hanc quaestionem Mortem aliquid ultra est Cui respondet Aegisthus Vita si cupias mori Ethnicus resurrectionem vel saltem vitam aeternam agnoscit Contemnenda est omnis injuria praesentium malorum Cypr. fiduciâ futurorum bonorum We that have received the first-fruits of the Spirit sigh and sob by these waters of Babylon because we cannot sing the Lords song in a strange land but then we shall sit and shine in the Kingdom of Heaven with Albs of innocency on our backs Palms of victory in our hands Crowns of glory on our heads and Songs of triumph in our mouths Then shall we enter into the Holy of holies then shall we celebrate the Sabbath of Sabbaths then shall we sing the Song of songs which none can learn but those that are redeemed from the earth Vita aeterna est vita vera Prima vita primum bonum ultimum malum Secunda vita primum malum ultimum bonum habet Hug● de sanct vict The first life hath first good and afterwards that which is evil The second life hath first evil and afterwards good This life Christus 1. Promisit Luk. 12.32 2. Promeruit Rom. 6.23 3. Praeparavit Joh. 14.2 4. Inchoat Joh. 6.47 5. Reddet Joh. 11.25 This is the promise that he hath promised us Dav. in Coloss 1 Joh. 2.25 even eternal life Caelum Heaven is three-fold where 1. Fowles are the airy heaven Gen. 1.30 2. Starres are the firmament Gen. 1.17 3. Souls are the glorious or heaven of heavens 1 Kings 18.27 Heaven is not obtained by chance as the Milesian fisherman got the golden tripos Assurance of heaven is to be got three manner of wayes 1. By faith 1 Pet. 1.9 Receiving the end of your faith even the salvation of your souls 2. By conformity to Christ Rom. 8.29 For whom he did foreknow he also did predestinate to be made conformable to the image of his Son 3. By the sealing work of the Spirit Ephes 1.13 After that ye believed ye were sealed with the holy Spirit of promise cap. 4.30 unto the day of redemption In the world if a man purchase a Lordship his heart is alwayes there he pulls down he builds he plants Christ hath bought the Kingdom of Heaven for us and hath paid for it at an high rate even with his most precious blood Anselm where he hath prepared mansions for us that are Denisons All our joy therefore should be there Corpore ambulantes in terra corde habitantes in Caelo Nonius chose rather to lose all his honours and fortunes than to quit his Opal Ring to Anthony But a far fairer Jewel is the Kingdom of God so sweet and precious that it deserves the selling of all we have and running into any hazard for it Luther gave his opinion the day before his death that in heaven we shall know one another because Adam knew Eve at first sight Lay up for your selves treasures in heaven Mat. 6.20 where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt and where thieves do not break through nor steal Heavens Glory The Christalline walks of that new City are not for muddy feet nor shall lust-infected eyes look within those holy doors Rev. 21.27 There is a room without for such cap. 22.15 a black room for black works God will not set a golden head on earthen feet give the glory of heaven to him that delights in the glory of earth The Angels those Caelestial porters that carry the souls of the Saints as they did the soul of Lazarus to Abrahams bosome have no commission to pull a wicked mans soul to heaven Trajane erected many monuments and buildings insomuch that Constantine the great in emulation was wont to call him Parietaria the Wall-flower because his name was upon so many walls Babels Tower raised an head of Majesty 5164 Heyl. Geog. paces frow the ground having its basis and circumference equal to the height the passage to go up went winding about the outside and was of an exceeding great breadth there being not only roome for horses carts c. to meet and turn but lodgings also for man and beast and as some report grasse and corn-fields for their nourishment Pharos a watch-tower in Egypt was built by Ptolomie Philadelph all of white marble Plin. l. 36. c. 12. The work of those famous Pyramides though it do not appear who were the founders was
him without the camp bearing his reproach for here we have no continuing City Heb. 13.13 14 15. but we seek one to come by him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually that is the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name who is the Author and finisher of our salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord to whom with the Father and the Holy Spirit be ascribed all honour glory power and dominion in heaven and in earth by men and Angels both now and for ever world without end Amen The Necessity of CHRISTS PASSION AND Resurrection ACTS 17.3 Christ must needs have suffered and risen again from the dead GLory which is the proper scope of a noble disposition and the intended end of honourable intents did Christ make to be the necessary consequence of his fore-running passion His life seem'd to the worlds eye inglorious in that he affected not popularity so did his death to those that knew not the mystery of our Redemption By general judgment he was reputed the most unhappy breathing he was rejected and despised of men Yet in this his rejected and contemptible condition was sowen his immortal happiness which indeed was sowen in weakness but was raised in power sowen in dishonor but raised in glory For as by the eternal constitution of the Almighty he ought to have been brought to the lowest degree of misery by suffering divers and fearful punishments so ought he not perpetually to abide in that state but at length to be elevated thence to the highest pitch of glory In order to which as Christ must needs have suffered so also must he rise again from the dead The point now by divine assistance to be discust is part of Christs exaltation a theame of an high nature And herein first of the person exalted Christ Christ was exalted according to both natures 1. In regard of his Godhead 2. In regard of his Manhood The exaltation of the Godhead of Christ was the manifestation of the Godhead in the Manhood mightily declaring therein that he was the Son of God Which manifestation was altogether active no way passive the effects produced by him having no other proper agent but God For who could overcome Satan death the world the grave but God And albeit the Divine nature be thus exalted yet it is without all manner of alteration For to speak properly in it self it cannot be made the subject of exaltation but as it is considered joined with the Manhood into the unity of one person For albeit Christ from the very time of the assumption of our nature whereby he was incarnate was both God and man and his Godhead all the time he liv'd dwelt in his Manhood yet from the hour of his Nativity unto the hour of giving up the Ghost and a while after the Godhead did little shew it self The glorious majesty of his Deity whiles he was in the for me and low state of a servant lay hid under the vaile of his flesh as the soul doth in the body when a man is sleeping And in the time of his passion the brightness of the glory of the sun of righteousnesse was obscured as the sun running in the height of heaven oftimes over clouded or eclipsed by a darker body thereby in 〈◊〉 humane nature to undergo the curse of the law and perfect the work of our redemption in subjecting himself to the death even the cursed death of the crosse But as soone as this work was finished and happily accomplished he began by degrees to make known the power of his Godhead in his Manhood And so to rise again Secondly Christ was exalted in regard of his Manhood which consisteth in these two things In depositione servilis sua●conditionis in laying down and quitting himself from all the infirmities that 〈◊〉 mans nature which he submitted himself unto except sin so long as he remained in the state of a servant he was subject to weariness to hunger to thirst to fear to death from all which in this state of exaltation he is perfectly delivered his natural body is a glorious body those wounds and stripes which in his body he suffered for our sins remain not in him as testimonies of that compleat conquest to be obtained over his and our enemies But are rather quite abolished because they were a part of that ignominious condition wherein our Saviour was upon the crosse whereof in his glorified state he is not to be partaker Yet if they still remain as some think they do they are no deformity to the glorious body of the Lord but are in him in some unspeakable and to us unknown manner glorified In susceptione donoxum in receiving such graces and qualities of glory as bring with them ornament beauty perfection happiness exceeding the or 〈◊〉 beauty perfection and happiness of any other creature in heaven or earth 〈◊〉 to his soul and body As for his soul look upon the intellectuall part you shall find a mind enrich with as much knowledge and understanding as well in respect of the act as the habit as a creature can possibly be capable of the measure of it being more than all men and Angels put together have Look upon his will and affections you shall find them furnished with the fulness of grace and compleatly adorned with the invaluable riches and incomparable gifts of Gods holy Spirit As for his body it is not now subject to dissolution from being natural it is become spiritual not by the destruction of the essence but by the alteration of the qualities Aquinas Est ejusdem naturae sed alterius gloriae said Thomas for God would not suffer his holy one to see corruption The nature and essential proprietles of a true body as length breadth thickness locality still remain in him the addition of glory and brightness not changing the nature of it so that it is free from all bodily imperfections and made bright and glorious a resemblance whereof was his transiguration on the mount Matth. 17. where his face did shine as the sun and his rayment was as white as the light the purity whereof is unblemished the agility whereof such as is indifferent to move upward or downward the brightness thereof cannot be obscured nor the strength thereof match't by any creature For by his power he shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body Hhil 3.21 according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself These gifts of glory in Christ's body are not infinite but bounded within limits because his humane nature being but a creature and therefore finite could not receive infinite graces and gifts of glory To make then infiniteness ubiquity and omnipotency incommunicable attributes of God attributes of Christ's glorified body is to destroy the nature of a body and say that the body of Christ is transformed into the Deity or Deified and that he is all
the ordinance of God for He did all things well Wherefore to shew that God keeps his word and that the truth of his promises is infallible He rose again from the dead In regard of us the end of his Rising is threefold Viz. 1. For our Example 2. For our Justification 3. For our Faith c. First for our Example tending to the information of us in the ways of righteousness in the paths of life That like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father even so we also should walk in newness of life that the body of sin might be destroyed Resurectione Domini configuratur vita quae hic geritur and that henceforth we should not serve sin Rom. 6.4.6 The Resurrection of Christ from the dead should be a pattern for us wherein there is some effective vigor to raise us from the death of sin to a gracious life The power of effecting both is in God A D●o est quod unima vivat per gratiam corpus per Animam That the soul lives by grace and the body by the soul comes from God Aquinas who is the Author of life And saith Ames Christ rising from death is tum demonstratio quam initiatio as well a demonstration as the initiation or beginning of our Rusurrection by whom we pass from death unto life Secondly for our Justification They are the express words of the Apostle He was raised again for our justification Rom. 4. ult For now that he hath gotten the victory over death by reviving he applies by the vertue thereof all the benefits of the Gospel unto us to the exceeding great consolation of our souls Lastly for the establishment of our faith concerning the obtaining of life everlasting For indeed if the Head be risen the members may be sure to rise too and if the Head receive life and glory doubtless the members which have their proper dependunce of him shall receive the like perfection for a glorified Head cannot be without a glorified body Now Christ is the head of the body the Church Col. 1.18 who is the beginning the first-born from the dead that in all things he may have the preheminence Of the fulness of whose glory in the day of our perfect redemption we shall all receive a full measure For a Conclusion Communi naturae lege moriuntur homines The sons of men composed of dust and ashes die by the common law of nature Eternity is proper to another world not to this to this Inconstancie The Son of the most High himself when he became the Son of man was subjected to Mortality He pleaded no Prerogative royal to be exempted from that end which God setled in the course of nature Our times upon the Earth may be said to be lasting but not everlasting though in the hands of God Heaven decreed a period to our Lives which we cannot prevent and to which Christ at the appointed houre did submit himself with all obedience not able to avoid it Necessity was laid upon him to pay the dubt to Nature which might serve for a payment of our debt to God yet not respectu peccuti W●ems Protralcture of Gods image in man pag. 43. but respectis poenae this necessity was not in respect of sin He was a Lamb without blemish and without spot but in respect of that punishmen● which he did oblige himself to undergo for the sins of men Est illata necessia● Adamò innata necessit as nobis assumpta necessitas in Christo Necessity of death was laid upon Adam for his sin necessity of death is imbred in us and by a voluntary assumption there was a necessity of death in Christ A man willingly gives his word for such a summe for his friend but when he hath willingly given it he must of necessity pay it So Christ willingly took this debt upon him and in the fulness of time when 't was exacted paid it down even his life to God and nature But albeit he thus parted from the world yet God hath raised him up Etiam animalula quaedam typ● Resurrectionis sunt Lavat in Job 14.12 having loos'd the paines of death because it was not possible that he should be holden of it So though the hand of fate by Natures unconfused order reduce us to our first principles yet shall we rise again by the mighty power of our eternal Maker The Judge of all the word hath appointed a day wherein to judge the world to which all must rise And as all must die and after death come to judgment so Christ was once offered to bear the ●ius of many and unto them that look for him shall be appear the second time without sin unto salvation THE BLESSED AMBASSADOR OR THE Best sent into the Basest GALATH. 4.6 And because ye are sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father GODS love wherewith he hath embrac'd the sons of men in his onely Son is of such large extent as cannot be limited as cannot be measured the breadth and length and depth and height thereof Eph. 3.18 19. doth passe our knowledge Doth passe our finding out The length the breadth the depth of the earth the sea the heavens Mathematicians by their speculations do conjecture but the love of God the most ingenious and judicious cannot it so exceeds so much as conjecture much lesse perfectly know because infinite Would a man part with his only son and alone darling and he content he should die a most ignoble and ignominious death to ransome his servants his cantives his slaves rebels that would cut his throat I cannot be perswaded the world affords such a man such a Phenix there was but one in all the world Abraham found willing to slay his son to rip up his bowels that spruug out of his own when God commanded it Yet the Lord of heaven and earth whose mercies are over all his works sent his only Son to save sinners to dye that by his death we may live Though servants Cantives slaves rebels yet by his Son made Kings Priests Prophets sons and heirs of an eternal inheritance O the depth the height and length and breadth of Gods love He sent his Son forth from him to bring us to him he freely gave him to redeem us from the insulting power of Sathan from the captivity and dominion of sin from the oppressing tyranny of the world to bring us into the glorious liberty of the Sons of God This liberty this sonship is obtained by faith for to as many as beleeve in his name hath he given power to become the Sons of God All ye then that beleeve are no more servants but sons not sons of wrath but sons of God not sons by nature but sons by grace And because sons behold the Lords bounty is en●arged toward you the treasures of his graces are open for you the store-house of his riches is
Decalogus explicatus a living Decalogue his life is a comment on the commandments He walks up to his principles and priviledges answering his Gospel-light with a Gospel life Ille plus didicit quiplus facit A grain of grace is better than many pounds of gifts Obedience is better than sacrifice These lead to the top of all which is blessednesse This man shall be blessed in his deed Mark this against the Papists the Apostle doth not say for but in his deed 'T is an evidence of our blessednesse though not the ground of it the way though not the cause There is a blessednesse annexed to obedience not for the works sake but out of the mercy of God see then that we so carry as that we may come within the compasse of the blessing His disciples were more blessed in hearing Christ than his mother in bearing him Luke 11.28 DECVS SANCTORVM OR THE Saints Dignity PSAL. 149.9 This honour have all his Saints HOnor Christianorum Crux Christi The Cross of Christ is the Christians glory God forbid that any of Christs flock should glory in any thing save in the Cross of Christ There is pain indeed but there is pleasure too the pain is outward but the pleasure inward the pain is for a moment lasting but the pleasure time out of mind everlasting There is trouble in the Cross but hold out unto the end and the consequence of it will be rest world without end All afflictions are but light in comparison of that exceeding and eternal weight of glory that crowns them Besides the joy of the Holy Ghost is wrought in the hearts of the afflicted members of Jesus Christ weighs down the burden of that sorrow that is laid upon them Hence it is that they faint not for though the outward man perish yet is the inward man renewed day by day 2 Cor. 4.16 It is an infallible Maxim dictated by Gods Spirit That they that live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution 1 Cor. 4.12 13. But observe the magnanimity of the Martyrs Though they be reviled yet they bless though they be persecuted yet they suffer it though they be defamed yet they bless though their blood run down about their ears yet they rejoice forasmuch as they are partakers of Christs sufferings that when his glory shall be revealed they may be glad also with exceeding joy For whosoever suffereth reproach or any kind of persecution for the name of Christ keeping a good conscience happy are they for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon them and God on their part is glorified The Church of God which is the Congregation of Saints is compared to a City which is besieged ab hostibus oppugnatur non expugnatur which is assaulted but not vanquisht by any adverse power the gates of hell cannot prevail against it 1 Pet. 4.13 14. The Bush that Moses in a vision saw burning but not consuming did signifie the Church of God then in Egypt burning in the fiery furnace of tribulation yet free from consumption You may easily conceive the reason God was there Here am I said he to Moses Where the Lord is there is safety No power can destroy that which is supported by the highest power Vritur non comburitur the bush the Church doth burn but consumes not away it is preserved for greater glory and greater glory reserved for it For no doubt but the Saints the holy ones of the Holy One of Israel shall at length have the upper hand of their enemies Principalities powers and dominions do set themselves against them but what of that Principalities powers and dominions must submit unto them Wherefore Let the Saints be joyful in glory let them sing aloud upon their beds let the high praises of God be in their mouth and a two-edged sword in their hand to execute vengeance upon the heathen and punishments upon the people to bind their Kings with chains and their Nobles with fetters of iron to execute upon them the judgment written This honor have all his Saints Observe in these words these three parts 1. A Subject and that is Gods Saints 2. An Attribute which is a special honour proper and peculiar to the Saints exprest in the precedent words and here implied This honour 3. The latitude and extent of this attribute of honour all Gods Saints are partakers of it This honour have all his Saints The Subject must be the first subject of my discourse There are two sorts of Saints 1. Seeming Saints and 2. Real Saints Seeming Saints are whose Religion is terminated in outward appearances None can have a fairer outside none a fouler inside Whereupon our Saviour compares them by the name of Hypocrites to painted sepulchres and others give them the plausible appellation of white Devils Painted sepulchres are glorious without but within nothing visible but rottenness White Devils appear like Angels of light but do but search them and you shall find them Angels of darkness Devils though white as the Devil would have it and as the Negro's paint him as a colour contrary to their own Multa videntur quae non sunt Many good things appear by them but not one good thing can be found in them Our Saviour deciphered them by the name of Wolves in Sheeps clothing harmless in profession but in truth of a wolvish disposition like those in the Revelasion that said they were Jews and were not but the Synagogue of Satan These are Saints in the Devils name and of his making whose damnation is just and from whom good Lord deliver us Let us leave them as nothing to do with this Text nor this Text with them which hath only to do with Gods Saints And take this note with you Si vita sanct●rum nobis acerit appellatio sanctorum nihi proderit saith reverend Davenant The name of Saints will nover do us good if we lead not the good life of Saints There are real Saints Saints of God and they are Saints two ways 1. By Imputation 2. By Renovation By Imputation for to them the sanctity and righteousness of Jesus Christ is imputed in which respect the Saints gone were the Saints living are perfect in this lise John 17.19 Ephes 5.27 Tales nos amat Deus quales futu●i sumus ipsius dono non quales sumus nostro merito Saith an Ancient Councel For the holiness of our dear Saviour in a bottomless mercy and goodness imputed to them is in it self most perfect Of this our Saviour speaks when he saith For their sakes sanctifie I my self that they also may be sanctified through the truth And the Apostle delivers this doctrine thus That Christ loved his Church and he gave himself for it that he might sanctifie it and present it to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinckle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish Were it not that they are not imputed and that Christs righteousness is