righteousnes vnto eternall life That all that beleeue in him walking after the spirite and not after the fleshe might be pertakers of his heauenly kingdome and made the sonnes of God For which cause to the better confirmation of our faith and hope of saluation It is requisite to shewe the ordenance and promyse of God from the beginning touching our iustification in his sonne Iesus Christ that thereby wée may be stirred vp by the great goodnes of god for to séeke by Christe Cor. 1.2 the riches of his glorious inheritance vpon the Sainctes Ephe. 11. hée béeing ordained thereto of God before the beginninge of the worlde was made vnto our glory Touching whome in this Booke of mans glorification wée must especially looke vnto Christes two coÌ„mings séeing that hée is the Author and finisher of our redemption and hath adopted vs to be the sonnes of glory by appearing once in the fleshe to put sinne to flight by the offering vp of him self to death whome the Father raysed vp to lyfe and is entred into heauen to appeare now in the sight of God for vs and shall come againe to chaunge our vile bodyes Phil. 3. to be facyoned lyke to his glorious body Wherfore in that wée haue such an high Aduocate in heauen by whome wée haue an incorruptible crowne of blessednes propounded and set before vs Let vs walke woorthy and laudable vnto God according to the grace giuen vs in Iesus Christe that wée may obteine the rewarde thereof And now to consider the purpose of the heauenly Father how hée hath blessed vs in all manner of heauenly thinges by Chris te according as hée hath chosen vs that wée should be Saints through the beloued Iesus It followeth that wée kéepe alwayes a ioyfull remembrance that as the glory of the last house or teastament of God was greater then the first so is it in the manner of the two commings of Christ for first hée came in the humilitie of the fleshe to be to vs a sauing health béeing borne of the Virgin Mary by the woorking of the holy Ghoste very man and mortall and yet the same very GOD and immortall who béeing in the shape of God and equall with God Collos s â— Phil. 2. in whome dwelleth all the fulnes of the Godhead bodyly yet did he neuerthelesse make him self of no reputation takeing vpon him the shape of a seruant and became lyke vnto man and was founde in his apparell as a man humbling him self to all obedience for though hé e were Gods sonne yet learned hée obedyence Heb. 5. by those things which hée suffered and was made perfect Ihon. 1. and the cau se of eternall saluation vnto al that obey him according to Iohn In the beginning was the woord and the woord was with God and the woord was God and this woorde was made fleshe beeing the lyfe and light of men giuing power to all that beléeue in him to be the sonnes of God for it pleased the father to send his sonne in the sinfull fleshe béeing without sinne and by sinne dampned sinne in the flesh and loused the woorkes of the deuill Rom. â— Whome he maketh heire of all things béeing the brightnes of him self bearing vp all thinges with the woord of his power for so it was the will of the Father that in him should all fulnes dwell Heb. 1. and that in him all thinges should haue their béeing that hée might be all in all Thus the Almighty Creator hath performed his blessed promyse Collossians â— when hée sayde that the séede of the Woman shall breake the Serpents head and when long after he sayd vnto Abraham vnto thy séede will I giue this land Gen. 3. for one that come out of thine owne body shall be thyne heire and thy seede shall bee as the starres in number And Abraham beléeued the Lord and it was imputed to him for righteousnes Gen. 15. And also the Lord sayde againe to Abraham when he was 89 yeare olde I will make my couenant betwéen mée thée and will multiply thé e excéedingly for behold my testameÌ„t is with thée that thou shalt be a father of many nations my bond betwéen mée thée thy séed after thée shal be an euerlasting testament Gen. 17. I wil be good to theÌ„ giue theÌ„ the land wherin thou art a stranger euen all the lande of Canaan for an euerlasting possession and wil be their God for Saâ—a shall beare a sonne and thou shalt call his Name Isac and she bare Abraham a sonne euen the same season which the Lord had appointed Thus it pleased the Almightie God to choose vs and not we him shewing foorth hereby the abundancie of his loue and mercie in that he hath mercie vpon theÌ„ which are not yet in the worlde and in that he declareth his great goodnes in multiplying his louing kindnesse towarde those that are present and to them that are past and to them that are to come for after that Adam thorough sinne brought in the corruption of nature that the euill seede of wickednesse was sowen in all mens hearts whereby death raigned by meanes of sinne then this darnell and cockle of vice and iniquitie did grow ripe in the first generations of Adam that they walked after their owne stubborne and fleshly will neglecting Gods goodnes That the Lord was thereby prouoked to bring his water floud vpon the world and destroy all mankind except Noye and his houshold And then after that the ofspring of Noye was againe multiplied to a great people by processe of time they waxed also vngodly and wicked but the Lord had giuen his raine bowe for a couenant that he would neuer destroy the world with watermore And then the most highest did choose him a man from among them whose name was Abraham whom he loued and to him onely God shewed his wil and made an euerlasting couenant with him promising him as is aforesaid that he will neuer forsake his seede and so in his old age gaue him Isaac the first testimonie of Gods promise and couenant begun so faithfully performed in Christ Iesus to the ioy and comfort of man in that we see euidently that God is righteous and true and hath giuen vs an assured hope of our election that by that onely seede of Abraham we shal enioy the euerlasting possession of that new blessed land of Canaan the first lande of promise Therefore this record we must beare in our selues that God is true and that what hee do or say can no man change what he promiseth he can not but perfourme And nowe the more to confirme this ioye faith hope which Abraham our first father of beliefe had to God in respect of the birth of Isac and prosperitie of his seede The Lorde to our example tryed whether righteous Abraham would beare an immutable minde towardes his God to loue him aboue all the dearest thinges which he
had yea aboue his sweete sonne Isac whome he loued as his owne life notwithstanding faithfully did Abraham preferre the loue of his almightie God and maker aboue the life of Isac offering him in sacrifice to the Lorde for which cause the eternall creatour to make his promise more certainely to sticke fast in Abraham and in all his posteritie sware by him selfe shewing that there was no God but him selfe saying in Genesis Gen. 22. â— Because thou hast not spared thy only son Isaac to offer him a sacrifice to me I will blesse thee and multiplie thy seede as the starres of heauen and as the sande vpon the sea side and in thy seede shall all the nations of the earth bee blessed because thou hast obeyed my voyce And thus the most merciful god although he cast Adam for his transgression out of Paradise and also destroyed the worlde for sinne yet he sheweth againe the voyce and promise of comfort that hee hath not cast vs off but hath giuen his gratious goodnes to the worlde that all nations through the seede of Abraham should be blessed according to that of the prophet Them I haue created facioned Esay 43. and made for mine honour And nowe the more to iustifie his true promise it is apparent that hee establisheth the foresaide testament to Is aac the first figure of Christ Gen. â—6 by whome all nations are sanctified Saying to Isac I will be with thee and blesse thee The promise for vnto thee and to thy seede will I giue all these countries and through thy seede shall all nations of the earth bee blessed becaus e that Abraham harkened to my voice and kept my ordinances commandements statutes and lawes wherein we are to learne how al our blessednes came of God the father of al goodnes to whom we ought alwaies to be thankefull framing our selues through his grace to be like Abraham in beleeuing and equall with him in obedience and ioyned with him in righteousnes that we may receiue the like praise and honour as God maketh mention of him to Isaac therby to obtaine as Paule promiseth the eternall ioye the praise honour and immortalitie that is due to them that continue in good doing and seeke eternall life Rom. 2. And finally God to seale vp the fulnes of his couenant the more and more to helpe and strengthen our weake harts of beliefe and to allure the children of promise to a fixed hope of his grace and goodnes The promise to Iacob doth reiterate his testament to Iacob that he being the seede of Abraham and Isaac that he shall be the well of liuing waters and that out of his loynes shall come the fountaine of all heauenly blessednes and the water of life grace goodnes saying The land which thou sleepest vpon Gen. 26. will I giue thee thy seed and thy seede shall be as the du st of the earth thou shalt spread abroad west east north and south and through thee and thy seede shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed according to Esay E say 43. I will bring thy seede from the east and gather them togeather from the west I will say to the north let goe and to the south keepe not backe but bringe me my sonnes from farre and my daughters from the ends of the world for all nations shall came in one and bee gathered in one people Gen. 35. for the Lorde saide againe vnto Iacob thou shalt be called Israell grow and multiplie for people and a multitude of people shall spring of thee yea and kings s hall come out of thy loynes and the land which I gaue Abraham and Isaac will I giue vnto thee and vnto thy seede after thee Thus the almightie God of our fathers Abraham Isaac and Iacob did seale the earnest of the inheritance of his euerlasting blessednes and kingdome in Christ with his holy spirite of promise made to our first fathers that he should come of the seede of Abraham according to the flesh by whom we should receaue redemption and saluation therby to be made partakers of Gods glorie And now furthermore after the proceedins of time that the seede of Iacob called Israell was increased to a great kindred of people and holden in bondage in the land of Egypt The Lord most mercifull and mindfull of his promise made to our forefathers Abraham Isaac and Iacob that he would be good vnto their seede raised vp among them Moyses a captaine and prophet that should deliuer and lead his people Israel out of Egypt into the land of Canaan which before he had giuen to Abraham and his seed for an euerlasting possession and this through Gods mightie hand who made a waye in the sea and a foote path in the mightie waters which brought forth the chariots and horses the host and power and drowned theÌ„ in the red sea And then brought his people vnto mount Synay in the wildernes where he gaue them the lawe figured in s tones shewing forth his wonderfull power that they did all tremble for feare and coulde not abide it for the people stood vnder the hill and the hill burnt with fire euen vnto the middes of heauen and there was the sound of a troump voyce of words tempest Deu. 4. darknes cloudes and mist and the Lord spake out of fire and declared his couenant and ordinance Exod. 19. and so terrible was the sight that appeared that Moyses said I feare quake And thus the law was giuen with great feare Exod. 34 and with great glorie for the children of Israell could not behould the face of Moyses for the glorie of his countenance with out a vayle which in Christ is put awaye for if the ministration of the lawe which is to condemnation bee glorious Cor. 2.3 much more doth the ministration of the spirite of promise vnto righteousnes exceede in glory And thus the law which began many hundred yeares after the promis e was added because of transgression as a schoolemaister to teach what sinne ment and not that it could giue life Gal. 3. or disanull the promise made to Abraham for the promise by faith in Iesus doth bring the inheritance and not the law which doth conclude all things vnder sinne for by the déedes of the law shall no man be iustified before God Rom. 3. but are iustified fréely by grace through the redemption that is in Christ Iesus who is the iustifier of them that beleeue in him after the example of righteous Abraham Wherefore the Lord to discouer our filthy nakednes and corruption brought by the sinnes of Adam did giue vs the law that therby we should come to the knowledge of our infirmities vices wretchednes which raigneth in our earthly members thereby knowing our state by the first Adam to be miserable and falne into the daungerous house and prison of al vncleannes being most wretched without hope vnlesse God of his
the inheritance of Christ his Kingdome And the excellent misterie of our eternall Mansion and new glorious Ierusalem in which wee shall dwell the Sonnes and Saincts of GOD for euer THE tyme beeing come that the Lord euen the most mighte God dooth dissend from the hye toppe of the heauens Psalme 50. to call the worlde togither not mynding to kéep silence then shall go before him a consuming fire and a mightie tempest shal be stirred vp round about him when hée thus shall come to call the heauens from aboue the earth that he may iudge his people at which tyme shall God appeare out of Sion in perfect beautie in the high glorie of his Godhed And then shall be performed that all thinges in heauen and earth shall be gathered togither in Christe Ephe. â— and the misterie of the will of the Father declared that Christe our triumphant King and Iudge hauing reigned vntill his enemies be put vnder his féete and hauing put down all rule authoritie and power that death the last enemy is consumed into victorie shall delyuer vp the kingdome to GOD the Father and become him selfe subiecte to God that putteth all thinges vnder his feet Cor. 1.15 that God may bee in all thinges and then the holy Cittie new IerusaleÌ„ commeth down from God out of heauen prepared as a Bryde garnished for her husband that the Tabernacle of God is now with his elect and hée him selfe dooth dwell with them and they shall be his people and God him felf shall be with them and shal be their God for Christe the king of kings will suffer none of his chosen to be away but gather all his Saincts together and so enter with triumphing Ioy into new Ierusalem Therfore lyft vp your heads O yée gates and be lyft vp ye euerlasting dores that the king of glorie may come in with his holie people hauing the palmes of victorie crownes of lyfe and Garlands of glorie in their hands Math. 21. And thus in stead of his humble ryding vppon an asse he with all gloriousnes is accompaned into new IerusaleÌ„ with the eternall Crowne and Scepter of heauenly maiestie takeing possession of Abrahams new land of promise the euerlasting kingdome and inheritance of Gods rest saying to his righteous people come taste the cup of your saluation and imbrace the ioyes the happines the bessednes and vnspeakable glorie which the Father of heauen hath of his great loue here prepared for you in his pallace where now you are fully and absolutely come to the new land of Canaan the euerlasting inheritance and to holy mount Sion and to the Cittie of the liuing GOD the celestiall Ierusalem and to the enumerable fighte of Angels and vnto the congregation of the first borne soÌ„nes which are written in heauen Cor. 1 3. and to God the Iudge of all and to Iesus the mediator of the new Testament and to a kingdoÌ„e immoueable for euer where they are clothed with their heauenly mansion replenished with the glory ioy and blessednes which neither tung can vtter eye hath séene or hart hath thought and thus Christe hath made them the glorifyed sonnes of God and holy and peculiar people a congregation triumphant a kingly préesthoode and a perfect communion of Sainctes assembled togither in all purenes and precious nes with God before the presence of the almightie eternall Father who now sheweth foorth to you the light of his countenace that you shall beholde with ioy vnspeakable his moste glorious godhead his moste resplendent countenance and incomprehensible maiestie synging to him with an heauenly voice and blessed harmony in all abundancie of ioy the songs of praysing God for euer for that hée hath geuin vs the crowne of euerlasting lyfe and the fréedome of his etrenall kingdoÌ„e of glorie where now wée hunger no more nor feele infirmities neither dooth the sunne and moone giue lighte to vs any more for our pretious Lamb dooth dwell with vs Reu. 7. and feede vs and lead vs vnto fountaines of liuing water and our God wypeth all teares from our eyes clothing vs with the plentious ioy of our heauenly mansion new Ierusalem beeing full of mellifluous pleasures where all things are so heuenly that nothing can be better for there dwelleth euerlasting lyfe there groweth the trée of ioy there runneth the waters of helth there is the hidden maÌ„na of heauenly consolation the white stone of gladnes the new names of happines and there is the beautie of the Godhed glory of saincts incoÌ„parable blessednes for euer So that the GOD of all treuth hath performed that which hee spake by Esay the Prophet beeing moste fauourable and gracious vnto Sion saying There shall thyne eyes see new Ierusalem that glorious Habitation the Tabernacle that neuer shall remooue whose nayles shall neuer bee taken out worlde without end and her cordes shall neuer corrupte Esay 33. for the eternall maiestie of the Lord shall there bee present among vs and he shall be our Captaine and king that wee shall walke vpon fayre and beautifull Ryuers and pleasaunt Streames of lyfe where neither gallies rowe nor great shippes saile neither any man there lyeth that sayth I am sick but all euill is taken away from vs who therfore desireth not to dwell in the house of the Lord and to beholde the fair beautie of God and to visit his Temple and to be in his citie in which sayeth Zacharie The waters of lyfe run out of Ierusalem and the Lord him self s halbe king ouer all the earth Zacha. 14. and there shal be but one Lorde onlye and his name shal be but one for then shall he set vp him self aboue the heauens and his glorie shall be aboue all when hée shall make a new heauen and a new earth that men shall goe about the earth as about a golden Paradice or plesant florishing féeld For now IerusaleÌ„ shall be saifly inhabited which was forsaken and is made according to the saying of Esay The Cittie of the Lord moste glorious through all posterities Esay 60. beeing inhabited without any wall yea the Lord him self is to her a wall of fire round about and will be honored euermore in her Where all thinges are full of the shyne of the Lords glorie so that O beholde this phenicall Cittieâ—Ierusalem how shee shall reioyce in hir Children and hir Children shall bee full glad of her whose gates are buylt with Saphire and Smaradge and all the walles with precious stones Toble 13. and in all her streates shall Aleluia be sung where Gods kngdome shall bee vpon her world without end Therfore O children of men so do that you may be Citizens in this citie of incoÌ„parable blessednes for the obtaining wherof Ephes 6. it behoueth you to walke as the children of the day light striuing to ouercome all the lustes of the fleshe the world and the deuil as might hinder you from entring in to so heauenly a