of our Lord Iesus Christ being the first in iudgement for their clearing shal thenceforth sit as it were vpon thrones with our Sauiour Christ to iudge the wicked According to that which we reade first concerning the twelue Apostles Matth. 19.28 29. And then more generally concerning other Christians 1. Cor. 6.2 3. and Reuel 2.26 27. and chap. 3 21. Thus then euen the very expectation of the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ to iudgement may iustly be very comfortable according as the Apostle Paul calleth the hope of this time a blessed hope Tit. 2.13 And whenas euen the first comming of our Sauiour into this world in his taking of our nature was comfortable in the hope of these blessings though the hope was more remote as we may say then much more comfortable may they be now in that the hope is more neare as wee may well vnderstand from that saying of the Apostle Heb. 9.28 Christ being once offered to take away the sinnes of many shall appeare the second time to them that looke for him without sinne vnto saluation Now therefore seeing the expectation of the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ to iudgement is thus comfortable in that he that shall be our Iudge will be our Sauiour and so much the rather by how much the day draweth more and more nearer it must needes follow that the comming it selfe shall be most comfortable of all to so many as shall at that day be found faithfull Question But in what respects shall it be so Answer This is euident from the due consideration of the ends of the comming the which haue beene alreadie for the most part mentioned to shew the comfort of the expectation of him in respect of the same his comming Explication They haue been so indeede For whereas the accomplishment of the iudgement which shall be consisteth partly in the remouing of all anoiances and hinderances of the happinesse of the elect children of God for euer and partly in the conferring of all good things in full perfection both for measure and also for the perpetuitie of them These good things haue beene more fully rehearsed and the euill things haue beene somewhat touched But it shall not be amisse for you to make a briefe rehearsall of either sort that vpon a new occasion wee may make some further supply of that which is yet wanting Question Which therefore are those ends for the which our Sauiour will come to execute his last iudgement Answer The good things which he will then conferre and bestow vpon his Church in full perfection for euer shall be these First the eternall redemption and saluation both of the bodies and also of the soules of all the elect of God Secondly the renewing both of the heauens and of all the earth according to the promise of our Sauiour wherein shall dwell righteousnesse for euer Explication proofe These indeed are the good things in their seuerall kindes which shall at that day be conferred bestowed vpon all the whole Church of God as we may call to minde from the 8. chapter of the Epistle to the Romans alledged before and Reuel 21.1 2 3 4 5 6 7. And then further 9 10 c. According also to that which we reade Acts 3.19 20. And 2. Pet. 3.12 13. Question Now which are the euill things or anoyances of the Church of God which our Sauiour will at his second comming vtterly suppresse and abolish so as they shall not anoy his Church and people any more Answer At that day our Sauiour will vtterly subdue and suppresse euery cruell Antichrist and Tyrant from off the earth yea and all the Diuells with Sinne Death and Hell that they shall thenceforth neuer haue any more to doe with any of the faithfull whom he will perfectly redeeme and saue out of all their hands Explication proofe That our Sauiour will then vtterly thus suppresse these aduersaries to the welfare and saluation of the Church it is plentifully testified 2. Thes 2.8 The Lord will consume the man of sinne with the Spirit of his mouth and abolish him with the brightnesse of his comming Yea so as it followeth in the same place that no power or craft of the diuell shall be able any longer to vphold him And this being spoken of the chiefe Antichrist much rather shall euery other be cast downe Reade also Reuel 18.1 3 c. And chapter 19. verses 20 21. And chap. 20.10 The Diuell that deceiued them was cast into a lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false Prophet shall be tormented euen day and night for euermore And chap. 21.4 But as touching the godly God will wipe away all teares from their eyes and there shall be no more death neither sorrow neither crying The Duties neither shall there be any more paine for the first things are passed But as it followeth verse 8. the fearefull and vnbeleeuing the abominable and murtherers c. shall haue their part in the take which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death So then as the holy Apostle St. Paul writeth 1. Cor. 15. at that time shall be brought to passe the saying that is written Death is swallowed vp into victorie O death where is thy sting O graue where is thy victorie The sting of doath is sinne and the strength of sinne is the law But thanks be to God who hath giuen vs victorie through our Lord Iesus Christ And well also may it be said then according to that Isai 25. verses 1 4 8 9. O Lord thou art my God I will exalt thee c. Thou shalt destroy death for euer c. Lo this is our God we haue waited for him and he hath saued vs c. For this day shall to the godly infinitely exceed all the ioy of the deliuerāce of the people of Israel out of Egypt or of their return out of their captiuitie in Babylon c. Such therefore and so great euen aboue all estimate is the vse of this Article for the comfort of faith NOw let vs examine likewise of how great vse it is to make that most mightie challenge of speciall fruits of obedience which if doth as it were with the exceeding lowd and shrill blast of a trumpet call and cry out for at our hands to the end we might be sound meet partakers of so inestimable comfort for the present and both of comfort and aduancement at the last day euen for euer and euer For herein the holy Scriptures are very frequent and often and therewithall exceeding earnest as the diligent Reader cannot but he must easily perceiue and as we by the grace of God will henceforth indeuour in a good part to make it euident that it is so by calling to minde those things which we haue obserued in this behalfe Which therefore as wel as you may remember are the duties which haue beene shewed out of the holy Scriptures Question to belong
Iacob and in them throgh our Sauiour Christ with all true beleeuers touching euerlasting happinesse and saluation both of soule and bodie For thus doth our Sauiour himselfe interpret the tenure of Gods blessed couenant to the refelling of the Sadduces who denied the resurrection of the body as we reade and as hath beene mentioned before Math. 22.31.32 For so soone as he hath alledged the words of the couenant I am the God of Abraham c hee inferreth straight way against them that God is not the God of the dead but the God of the liuing That is to say they whose God the Lord is doe both presently liue with God in the blessed immortality of their soules after this life ended and also shall for euer liue with their bodies after that they shall be raised vp againe For God is the God of the whole persons of his seruants and not of one part of them onely As he hath created both soule and bodie and as hee hath redeemed them both so no doubt hee will saue them both 1. Cor. chapter 6. verse 20. Rom. 8.23 Touching this promise our Sauiour is yet more expresse and plaine Iohn 6. verses 39 40. Question Which are his words Answer 39 This is the Fathers will who hath sent me saith our Sauiour that of all which he hath giuen me I should loose nothing but should raise it vp againe the last day 40 And this is the will of him that sent mee that euery man which seeth the Sonne and beleeueth in him should haue euerlasting life and I will raise him vp at the last day Explicatiō This will of the Father includeth no doubt a promise of the effectuall performance of the good pleasure of the same his diuine will Beliefe that to euerie true member of the church of God belongeth the inheritance of euerlasting life And let vs in these words obserue likewise the most holy consent The Comforts both of the Father and also of the Sonne touching the assurance of our resurrection And againe chap. 5. verse 21. As the Father raiseth vp the dead and quickeneth them so the Sonne quickeneth whom he will Reade also verses 28 29. And for the consent of the holy Ghost together with the Father and the Sonne we reade Rom. 8.11 If the spirit of him that raised vp Iesus from the dead dwell in you hee that raiseth vp Christ from the dead will also quicken your mortall bodies by his spirit that dwelleth in you THus therefore hauing the Ground Meaning and Promise of this Article Question let vs now proceede to the vse of it And first for Comfort What may that bee Answer This also is expressed by the Apostle Paul in the 15. chapter of his first Epistle to the Corinthians as it followeth verses 55 56 57. in these words 55 O death where is thy sting O graue where is thy victorie 56 The sting of death is sinne and the strength of sinne is the law 57 But thanks be vnto God who hath giuen vs victorie through our Lord Iesus Christ Explication and proofe Here is matter of singular comfort indeede in that Death with all his power shall be vanquished his prison gates set opon and all his prisoners deliuered in that also sinne shall cease and euery curse and the whole irritating power of the law shall be abolished Surely the discomfort of death and the graue is very heauie and grieuous to the naturall man Yea wee haue all of vs experience in our selues that if the least member we haue be hurt so in danger to perish from the rest of the body we are very careful for it It greeueth vs once to thinke that we should loose the least ioynt and we reioyce greatly so soone as we perceiue the recouerie of it How must it not then be much more comfortable to be assured of the restoring of the whole body seeing it must for a time after a sort wholly perish This moued Dauid to sing with ioy in the middest of his troubles that his flesh should rest in hope Psal 16.9 It gaue singular comfort to Iob in his grieuous calamitie as we heard but a while since Iob 19. It hath alwaies imboldned both former and latter Martyrs to indure all their torments chearfully Heb. 11.35 Deare friends as they are loth to part so they are very ioyfull and glad to meete againe God himselfe hath so lincked the soule and bodie in such a concordable consent and mutuall delight each in other that as they are most loth to part a sunder so it cannot but be an exceeding ioy to the soule to haue an assurance of their most blessed meeting againe And the rather because death shall neuer sunder them any more but they shall liue together most blessedly in al ioy and glory for euer Luk 20.35.36 For they can die no more saith our Sauiour for as much as they are equall to the Angells and are the Sonnes of God seeing they are the children of the resurrection as was alledged before To all good men sinne and the hatefull tyranny thereof is more grieuous then death And therfore to be deliuered from it frō all irritation and prouoking of the law must needes also be matter of speciall great comfort The comfortable hope of the resurrection maketh all things the more comfortable to all true beleeuers In this respect the most gratious and faithfull couenant of God spoken of before is the more comfortable because it extendeth it selfe to the body seeing as the mercy of God is perfect so no doubt he will be a perfect Sauiour And as he forgiueth the sinne both of body and of soule so will he remoue the punishment from both yea doubtlesse he will saue and glorifie both In this respect the sufferings of our Sauiour hauing beene in body as well as in soule are the more comfortable because body as well as soule is redeemed by him Beliefe that to euery true member of the church of God belongeth the glorious resurrection of the body In this respect the resurrection of our Sauiour The Duties and his bodily ascension vp into heauen c are the more cōfortable because the members must be made like to the head and because our Sauiour being a King will euery way most perfectly benefit his subiects For seeing as the heathen man could say euery kingdome is euergesia that is a benefiting of the subiects belonging to it most of all must the perfit kingdome of our Sauiour Christ be a most perfit benefiting or rather a beatifying or making of the subiects thereof blessed and happie in the highest degree In this respect the own bodily sufferings of the faithfull are comfortable vnto them they knowing that seeing they suffer in body with Christ they shall be glorified also in body with him as well as in soule according to that of the Apostle Rom. 8.17 Yea and seeing other creatures shall be restored as it followeth in the same text much
of any faith of righteousnesse and saluation by it without the parties owne personal inherent and perfect obedience to the same So that then to be vnder the law or as the Apostle Paul speaketh of the law or in the same sense of the works of the Law that is for a man to be of this mind to seeke and challenge righteousnes euerlasting life thereby and to be vnder grace that is to be such a one as waiteth for iustification saluation from the free grace fauour of God through the faith of the Gospell it is to be in a cleane contrary state and condition For the which read Rom. 3 28 4 14 6 14 7 6 chap. 11 vers 11. Col. 2 15 c. and chap. 3 â—0 11 12 18 23 25 chap. 4 21 c. and chap. 5 verels 4 5 according also to that which the same Apostle writeth 2. Cor. ch 3. where he calleth the old Testament the letter that is of no validitie to saluation and the newe Testament the Spirit that is the mightie instrument or as it were the wagon of the Spirit for the plentiful conuoy of al grace saluation Where likewise he teacheth that the Law is the ministration of death damnation and ascribeth righteousnes life and glory onely to the Ministery of the Gospell Neuertheles we may not be ignorant of this that the law in a generall acceptation of the word comprehendeth the whole gratious doctrine of the couenant of life saluation that is to say it comprehendeth both the doctâ—ine of workes as the fruits of faith and also the doctrine of the true iustifâ—ing faith it selfe Ps 1 ver 2 Ps 105 8 9 10 Ps 119 Likewise Isay 51.4.5 7 Mâ—l ch 2 6 7 8 9 ch 4. vers 4. Remember the law of Moses my seruant which I saith the Lord commanded vnto him in Horeb c. as though the Lord would giue to vnderstand that it was a sufficient full direction vnto them vntil the Sun-shine of righteousnes should afterward more brightly shine forth by the Ministery of Iohn Baptist and by the manifestation of Christ himselfe Like as the Apostle Peter also writeth to the Iewes of his time 2. Ep. 1 19. We haue also a most sure word of the prophets to the which ye do wel that ye take heed as vnto a light that shineth in a dark place vntil the day dawn the day star arise in your harts And besides the morall Lawe and the Gospell are so accorded in Christ who is the perfect righteousnes of the Lawe to euery true beleeuer who also concerning such hath taken away al the sting and strength which the Law had to death destruction that as by the appointment of God the Lawe is to all his elect children as a School-maister to leade vnto Christ so christ himselfe againe euen from the holy Law of God schooleth all those whom God by his holy Spirit hath once guided vnto him For he calleth all his schollers to all diligent and industrious care of vnfeined obedience vnto it as vnto the onely true rule of all good workes So do his holy Apostles also And so doe all godly learned Ministers of the holy word of God euen to this day as is plentifully to be seene in their Catechismes all other their godly wriâ—ings Yet so as neither the one nor any of the other doe thus teach as though iustification and saluation could possibly be obtained by the workes of the Law but because as was touched euen now the doctrine thereof humbling sinners before Goâ— dâ—iuing vnto Christ doth also teach them as by a most briefe excelleÌ„t rule all duties of true thankfulnes to God in a godly course of life in such manner as was described in the second third branches of the answere For verily â—he duties of the Law the duties of the Gospell they are one the same in matter substance both toward God toward man All the difference lieth in the manner or measure of the performance of them And therefore we say that the Gospell boroweth all morall instructions which it giueth euen from the morall law of God How the law accordeth with the Gospell onely fitting them to the grace and tenure of the couenant of the Gospell †EuaÌ„gelium vtitur ministerio legis addens es suaÌ„ epieiceian vt scitè Chemnitius Harmon pag. 310. Adding as one saith very well a kinde of holie Indulgence or milde moderation vnto it Neither may it without impietie bee thought that the lawe is absolutelie contrary to the promise of the Gospell according to that Galath 3.21 Is the Lawe then against the promise of God God forbid c. Nay as the same Apostle teacheth Rom 3.21 Christ hath witnesse of the Lawe and the Prophetes And hee saith of him selfe that hee being as one without the lawe was notwithstanding in the law through Christ 1. Cor. 9.21 Likewise our Sauiour Christ and the Apostle Iohn as he learned of him they make no scruple to call the Gospell not onely a newe commandement but also the same which was of olde Iohn ch 13.34 and 1. ep 2. 7. 8. And so Dauid likewise profeâ—â—ed of olde that hee beleeued Gods commandements as containing matter of faith and an vndoubted path-way to life after that it hath humbled the children of God to the faith of Christ Ps 119.66 And how friendlie both the law and the Gospell were accorded in his beleeuing heart wee may vnderstand by that which he professeth further in the same Psalme vers 166. Lord saith hee I haue trusted in thy saluation and haue done thy commandement And verse 174 I haue longed for thy saluation ô Lord thy law is my delight Read also Isay ch 42.4 Matt. 12.21 The Ilands shall wayte for the law of Christ And Gal 6 2. Beare ye one anothers burthen so fulfill the law of Christ 2. Pet. 1.21 Whervpon also wee may yet furthermore truely hold affirme that both the old Testament the new or the law as it is generally taken the Gospel the doctrine of Moses and the doctrine of Christ they doe containe but one the same coueaÌ„nt of Gods free fauour mercy euer since the fall of mankind toward all his elect whither Iew or Gentile One I meane in substance as might be proued by many testimonies reasons out of the holy Scriptures according as M. Caluin that excelleÌ„t minister of the Gospel of God hath notably gathered and set them downe to our hand in the 9. 10. chapters of the second book of his Institutions the which M. Piscator also And M. Caluin againe vpon the 20 verse of the 24. Psal It is the Deuils crafte to dazell our eyes c. as though the certainty of the grace of God were to be learned any other where then in the law and the Gospell Diaboliartis ficium est mentes
matter to make a crowne to wit brambles wreathed that in putting the same vpon his head they might vexe and ranch his holy skinne that way and easily cause the blood to runne down his blessed cheekes And the rather when they smite him on the head with their rods as the Euangelist Iohn reporteth that they did in the last branch of their present despite and as we shall â—aue an occasion afterward to consider of it further from the Euangelists Matthew and Marke And now likewise in that they hauing put vpon our Sauiour this base and pricking crowne of thornes do disparage it thus with a robe of purple this was to make our Sauior seem the more ridiculous in such a contrary habite For the crowne of thornes would not so much haue disgraced a beggars cloke if they had cast it vpon him as did this princely robe that paltry crowne Thus it pleaseth them to sport themselues And that nothing might be wanting to make out a full pageant of mockery they salute him thus disguised with Haile King of the Iewes as though they should say you are a goodly King are you not Long may you rule much peace may your subiects haue vnder your princely gouernment c. Thus doe the most vile and base vassalls of the earth abuse the King of heauen to their owne perpetuall destruction by his rod of yron whosoeuer of them did not repent of their most hainous sinne and beleeue in him to be their onely Soueraigne Lord and Sauiour whom they had thus wickedly scourged and scorned Thus then we see to what manner of instruments Pilate committed our Sauiour to be scourged whereby the manner of his scourging may easily be discerned But was it Pilates minde that our Sauiour Christ should be thus notoriously abused It may be peraduenture that some will imagine that this was the licentious disorder of the souldiers aboue the commission of Pilate c. Question What is to be thought of this Aâ—swer Whatsoeuer the commission of Pilate was this is certeine from the faithfull report of the holy Euangelist that he liked very well of their doings For so we reade as it followeth verses 4. and 5. of the same 19. chapter of Iohn in these words 4 Then Pilate went forth againe and said vnto them Behold I bring him forth to you that ye may know that I find no fault in him at all 5 Then came Iesus forth wearing a crowne of thornes and a purple garment And Pilate said to them Behold the man Thus then we see the hand and approbation of Pilate in all this most vnworthy and contumelious abuse ExplicatioÌ„ proofe against our most worthy and reuerend Sauiour Whereby he now supposeth that he hath done fully enough to satisfie the Iewes And to this end he wisheth the Iewes to consider that although he found no fault in him as he had often protested before though not so sliely as he doth it now yet to gratifie them most wicked Iudge that he was he bringeth our Sauiour forth with all the disgrace that he and his company could cast vpon him O extreame wickednes of the heathenish and damnable crue O admirable and most gratious patience of our blessed Lord and Sauiour But what doth Pilate winne his humorous purpose by this his practising of deuises Nothinglesse And so it is iust with God to curse those that walke by crooked waies Whereby all Iudges may learne yea all of vs may iustly receiue our instruction that if we would be blessed of God in our enterprises we must walke vprightly before him doing that directly which hee would haue vs to doe and not leane to our owne corrupt inuentions We must not onely propound to our selues good things but also we must vse good meanes to the bringing of them to passe and alwaies looke that we carry honest hearts with vs c. The which though Pilate did not but altogether erred The grouÌ„d and history of his last examination and arraignment before Pilate as one led by a corrupt and troubled conscience hee is in the end as farre from his purpose as he was at the beginning as is is euident by the words that follow in the Euangelist Iohn ver 6. Question Which are they Answer 6 When the high Priests and officers saw him saith the Euangelist they cried saying Crucifie crucifie him ExplicatioÌ„ The words of the Iewes tend to this end that it is nothing to them to see our Sauiour in a disguised habite no though he had been sharply whipped as no doubt they did well vnderstand It was his life that they sought and without the which they could no more be satisfied then the hungry woolfe or beare or Lion without the blood of the Sheepe which they had gotten as a prey betweene their teeth They are like to the couetous wilfull man they will haue all or none Pilate indeede is angry with the Iewes because they would not be subiect to his deuise and therefore saith vnto them in haughty displeasure Take 〈◊〉 him and crucifie him meaning if they would needes haue it so or if they durst for as touching himselfe he professeth to them yet againe that he found no fault in him But all Pilates anger will not serue for he hath by all meanes disaduantaged himselfe and giuen the Iewes all the advantage that might be by his cowardly and groundles declinings Herevpon therefore by occasion of Pilates words Take ye him and crucifie him they answer that if their gouernment were not restrained they had a plaine law by the warrant whereof they could and would put him to death namely say they because he made himselfe the Sonne of God The Law which they meane is the law against the blasphemer whom God coÌ„mandeth to be put to death Leuit. 24.15.16 And blasphemie is indeede a sinne most worthie to be punished by death From the which law thus they reason that if he that blasphemeth God is to die then much more he that challengeth the Godhead to himselfe and so arrogateth most blasphemously to himselfe that he is God The reason also is good and would surely be a full inditement against any man to death saue onely in the present instance of our Sauiour whom that law or reason drawne from thence could no way touch seeing he onely of all men was and is for euer the onely naturall Sonne of God and therefore very God which these wicked Iewes in their malitious wilfulnes blinded through enuie and altogether hardened in heart against our Sauiour would by no meanes see and acknowledge For then they must needes haue acknowledged him not onely worthy to liue but to be the very Lord of glory and life it selfe and therefore in stead of seeking his death to haue craued pardon of their own wicked and rebellious life and finally to haue yeelded all honour and glory vnto him BVt behold a strange thing which the Euangelist Iohn telleth vs of in the 8. verse namely that
at the fall of a friend and of such a friend as is a most innocent and righteous person according to that complaint of the Prophet Dauid Psal 22.14 c. I am like water poured out and all my bones are out of ioynt mine heart is like waxe it is moulten in the middest of my bowells My strength is dried vp like a potsheard and my tongue cleaueth to my â—awes and tâ—ou hast brought me into the dust of death For dogges haue compassed me and the assembly of the wicked haue inclosed me they haue piâ—rced mine hands and my feete I may tell all my bones yet saith the holy Prophet they behold and looke vpon me They part my garments among them c. In all which words the Prophet doth not so much complaine of his owne calamitie as hee doth propheticaâ—ly describe the suffâ—rings of our Sauiour which now wee inquire of and the extreame malice of his bloodie persecutors concurring with the righteous iudgement of God and his most fearefull wrath bent against a most perfit innocent man yea against a most righteous and good man which maketh the matter so much the more lamentable if it be nakedly considered in it selfe Question How therefore may we without iust blame take any comfort and ioy in the sufferings of our Sauiour which were the most grieuous and lamentable sufferings aboue the sufferings of any other Answere All our comfort and reioycing must be onely for a reliefe to our consciences against the most fierce wrath of GOD most iustly due to our sinnes and in respect of the manifolde fruites and benefiâ—es which through the mercie of GOD and by the gratious good will of our Sauiour himselfe are brought vnto vs by the same his sufferings to the glory of God and to our owne eternall saluation ExplicatioÌ„ It is very true And so it is euident that the comfort and ioy of the sufferings of our Sauiour doth onely belong to such as are humbled in the sight of their sinnes and be heauie loden with the burthen of them And vnto all such the ioy may iustly be so much the greater by how much the sufferings of our Sauiour were more extreame and bitter and by how much they were more willingly indured of him for a most full and perfit satisfaction to God to the paying as it were of the vttermost farthing of that price and ransome which God himselfe had set downe to be paid for the redemption of our sinnes According to that Heb. cha 2.9 By the grace oâ— God he tasted death for all men And Gal. 3.13 Christ hath redeemed vs from the curse of the law when hee was made a curse for vs. As touching the rest that is to say so many as be not humbled with godly sorrow for their sinnes they haue no part in the sweete comfort of the sufferings of our Sauiour but contrariwise looke by how much their sinnes haue beene more grieuous by so much may their terrour bee iustly the greater insomuch as hereby the wrath and curse of God is so much the more clearly reuealed against sinne in that he hath not spared to punish it when it was imputed to his owne Sonne Doubtlesse all reioycing in Christs sufferings is profane and wicked like to the ioy of the wicked Iewes in persecuting our Sauiour vntill such as doe reioyce in them be truly humbled in the sight of their owne sinnes for the which he died Question But leauing all profane reioycers What ground haue wee that our Sauiour Christ hath suffered for the sinnes of all such as be in godly manner sorie for them Answere Beside the testimonie of the Ptophet Isaiah already rehearsed our Sauiour himselfe hath most pâ—eâ—tifully confirmed it both by his word and also by the institution of his holy Supper as was something touched before According to that Matt. 11. â—8 Come vnto me all ye that are wearie and laden and I will ease you ExplicatioÌ„ It is so indeed Of these things therefore we are at this present more fully to consider according as we promised before And fiâ—st seeing as was saide euen now the matter of this comfort which we inquire oâ— is not the suffâ—rings of our Sauiour simply considered in themselues but in respect of the fruites and benefites which he hath purchased for vs and doth still câ—mmunicate vnto vs by the vnualuable merit and vertue of them let vs therefore consider the more diligently of these fruits and benefites both from the instructions of our Sauiour Christ himselfe and also from the historie of hâ—s suffeâ—ings and from other testimonies of the holy Scriptures Question Which therefore are these fruits and benefites Answer To speake generally they are either such as doe concerne deliuerance from euills or else the conferring and bestowing of the contrarie good things Explication This is that which as was said before is clearely and sensibly both represented and aâ—so applâ—ed by the holy Sacrament the supper of the Lord to all true beleeuerâ— whensoeuer they doe duly receiue and partake in the same to wit deliuerance from sinne and the gift of eternall life as â—ur Sauiour doth immediately vpon the institution very earnestly perswade with his Dâ—sciples both in the chamber and also in the way as hee walked from thence vnto the garden In the which his large and long continued speech insomuch as we may easily perceiue from the last part of the 13. chapter and throughout the 14.15 and 16. chapters of the Euangelist Iohn he laboured mightily to comfort his Disciples against his bodily absence which they were shortly to haue experience of and against those worldly afflictions which hee knew they should finde present with them wee may hereby vnderstand for our singular instruction what was the very true vse and end of the Supper of the Lord Namely that it might bee a meanes of spirituall comfort to them and to his whole Church to the end of the world against the discomfort of the same his bodily absence and not to giue any assurance of his bodily presence among them To this end therefore and also to euery other good purpose The Comforts of his sufferings more particularly let vs weigh well either part of the comfortable speech of our Sauiour to his Disciples And first of that which he had with them in the chamber as it is conteined in the last part of the 13. chapter and in the whole 14. chapter from the beginning to the end thereof Question What are the comforts contained herein Answere First in the end of the 13. chapter our Sauiour comforteth his Disciples and consequently the whole Church and our selues among the rest that his sufferings were the onely way to glorie both for him in our humane nature as the head and for the Church as the members of his mysticall body And all to the glory of God For so hee saith verse 31. Now is the Sonne of man glorified and God is glorified in him If God be
Rom 4 25. Hee was deliuered to death for our sinnes Likewise 1 Corin 15.3 Christ dyed for our sinnes according to the Scriptures And 2. Epistle 5.21 God made him which knewe no sinne that is him who neuer sinned neither was naturally tainted with any infection of sinne to be sinne for vs that is to be accounted a sinner and sinfull and to beare the punishment of sinne our sinnes being imputed to him that we might through faith in him bee iustified in the sight of GOD by the imputation of his righteousnes vnto vs. And Ephe 1.7 We haue redemption saith the Apostle through his blood euen the forgiuenesse of sinnes according to the rich grace of God And againe Colos 1.14 And Heb chap 9. verses 22.23.24.25.26.27.28 This is that which Iohn the Baptist Preached of our Sauiour that hee is the Lambe of God which takâ—th away the sinne of the world as Saint Iohn the Euangelist hath recorded it Gospell chap 1.29 And in his 1. Epistle chap 1.7 The blood of Iesus Christ the Sonne of God cleanseth vs from all sinne And ch 3.5 Yee knowe that he appeared to take away our sinnes and in him is no sinne And Reuel 1.5 Iesus Christ loued vs and washed vs from our sinnes in his blood Sinne being thus forgiuen vnto vs through the death and sufferings of our Lord Iesus Christ the wrath of God must needes cease according to that 2. Cor 5.18.19.20 And 1. Thes 1.10 The Sonne of God deliuereth vs from the wrath to come The wrath of God ceasing it cannot be but the punishments must needes cease at the least so farre forth that they shall not be hurtfull vnto vs but rather shall be furtherances of our saluation And among the punishments first as touching the abating of the strength of sinne and of the heate of lust in our wicked nature by vertue of the sufferings of our Sauiour Reade Rom 7.1.2.3.4.5.6 Where the Apostle Paul speaking figuratiuely of our second mariage to Christ hee sheweth that wee are thereby become dead to the Lawe which was as our first husband engendring the fruite of sinne to death and doe nowe by our second husband Christ bring forth fruite vnto GOD. And chap 8.10 If Christ be in you the body is dead because of sinne And Galat 2.19 I through the Lawe am dead to the Lawe and that I might liue vnto GOD I am crucified with Christ Thus the applying of the death and sufferings of our Sauiour by a true and liuely faith to the soule of a penitent sinner it is of like nature to a strong corasiue laide to a sore which eateth out the rotten and dead fleshe that lyeth festering in it as was obserued in the Doctrine of Repentance The greatnes of which benefite may be the more clearely discerned of vs if wee doe consider on the contrarie that it is the greatest and most grieuous plague and punishment of all other for a man to bee giuen ouer to a reprobate minde to followe sinne with greedines and so to haue one sinne punished as it were with another to the increase of most heauie vengeance from the reuenging hand of God in the ende Rom 1.24 c. and chap 2. verse 5. And therefore doth our Sauiour teach vs to pray so earnestly that God would not leade vs into temptation Secondly that the hand writing or inditement and curse of the Lawe of God whâ—ch was against vs is now taken away by the death and sufferings of our SAVIOVR yea and that the power of death and of the Diuel and of all our aduersaries both of fleshe and spirit are not onely disaduantaged but euen quite ouerthrowne and vanquished we read it affiâ—med partly Gal 3.13 in that the holy Apostle very comfortably assureth vs that CHRIST hath redeemed vs from the curse of the Lawe when hee was made a curse for vs. For saith he it is written Cursed is euery one that hangeth on tree And this did our Sauiour for vs. Moreouer Colos chap 1.13 And chap 2.14 our Sauiour Christ hath vpon the crosse spoiled the diuels of their power and deliuered vs from all power of darkneâ— c. Likewise Heb ch 2. v 9. c. to the end of the chapter wee reade the same thing testified And also Iohn 12.31 and 1. Epistle 3 8. Likewise in that our Sauiour Christ hath died the death which is the wages of sinne he hath by enduring the penaltie of sinne deliuered vs from death which came vpon vs thereby He hath deliuered vs also from all the tyrannie and malice of all the wicked instruments of the Diuel which he enrageth against the children of God here in this present euill world yea euen from all inordinate desire after the vaine glory and applause of this vaine world and the children thereof according to to that Gal 1 4. Our Lord Iesus Christ saith the Apostle gaue himselfe for our sinnes as was alledged before and then hee addeth furthermore that hee might deliuer vs from this present euill world according to the will of God our Father To whom be glory for euer and euer Amen And chap. 6.14 God forbid saith he that I should reioyce but in the crosse of our Lord Iesus Christ whereby the world is crucified vnto me and I vnto the world To conclude our Sauiour Christ hath by his death ransomed vs from all our enemies as Zacharie by the spirit of prophesie hath testified in generall Luke 1.68.69.70.71.72.73 Blessed be the God of Israel saith he because he hath visited and redeemed his people c. As hee spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets which were since the world began saying That he would send vs deliuerance from our enemies and from the hands of all that hate vs. And thus like as that valiant Iudge Sampson did at his death kill more of the bodily enemies of the people and Church of God then he had done in all his life before Iudg. chap 16.30 so yea infinitely much more triumphantly hath our Sauiour Christ that victorious Lion of the tribe of Iudah by his death vanquished all our enemies both spirituall and bodily and euen death and destruction it selfe Yea and which is euery way most admirable he hath made his conquest after a speciall manner differing altogether from all worldly fights and victories For euen as by being himselfe bound for vs he brake all our bonds by bearing our repâ—oach hath remoued it from vs by taking our curse hath made vs blessed by sustaining the wrath of God hath brought vs into his fauour so hath hee by dying made vs aliue as it followeth in the next place to be considered Question Now therefore which are the good benefites and blessings which our Sauiour Christ hath by the same his most holy death all his blessed sufferings obtained and procured for vs Answer They are these which folâ—owe First our reconciliation with God therewithall the full confirmation and sealing vp of his couenant touching the forgiuenes of our
mindes to wit the mindes of infidells that the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ who is the image of God should not shine vnto them But now that we may come to the third fruit and benefit of our Sauiours sitting at the right hand of God in that he is aduanced in his princely prophesie to wit to those most gratious and plentifull effects which from that time he gaue to the Ministers and Preachers of his Gospel and their ministerie aboue that hee euer gaue to the ministerie of his former Prophets or to his owne most sacred preaching while he was bodily vpon the earth the holy historie intituled the Acts of the Apostles doth plentifully confirme that hee did so euen from the beginning of the 2. chapter to the end of the 28. chap. which is the last of that notable booke According also as it is most briefly testified by Saint Marke chap. 16.20 where hee sheweth that after our Sauiour was receiued into heauen and sate at the right hand of God the Apostles went forth preached euery where And that the Lord wrought with them and confirmed the word with signes that followed And this was that which our Sauiour himselfe had promised before his death Iohn 14.12 Verily verily I say vnto you he that beleeueth in me the works that I doe he shall doe also and greater then these shall he doe for I goe to my Father These greater workes were the preaching of the Gospel to the Gentiles and their conuersion to the faith of Christ and to the obedience of the Gospel which were not fulfilled till our Sauiour was set downe at the right hand of God that he had endewed his Apostles with great power of his grace from the same right hand of the power of God as the whole history of the Acts of the Apostles doth plentifully declare We conclude therefore that looke what comfort we finde by the ministerie of the Gospel yea and from the word and Gospel of the new Testament it selfe written to our vses by the holy Apostles we are to ascribe it most immediately and as touching the perfit sealing of it vp vnto vs to the sitting of our Sauiour at the right hand of God So that seeing the people reioyced greatly at the workes of our Sauiour while he was vpon the earth for a time because God had raised vp a great Prophet among them though they did not then know him to be the Son of God Luke 7.16 Much more may we iustly reioyce who know and beleeue that the same great Prophet the Prince of all Prophets the most princely Prophet is royally aduanced at the right hand of God to such excellent ends as haue beene hetherto declared And thus much shall suffice to note out the comforts of this article of our saith in regard of the propheticall office of our Sauiour Christ Let vs come to the like comfortable fruites and benefites of his aduancement to the right hand of God in respect of his kingly priesthood Question Which are they Ans We are hereby assured that all the comfortable fruites and benefits of the most holie sacrifice of our Sauiour Christ in his death and sufferings for our sinnes as well touching the euils remoued as the benefites conferred and bestowed thereby are most perfâ—â—ty confirmed to vs and all true beleeuers Yea that the couenant it selfe of the whole bountie of Gods most free grace euen to our eternall saluation and glory is for euer most authentically sealed vp and confirmed to the whole Church of Christ. It is very true For in this respect hee is in titled to be a Priest not according to the lawe of the carnall commandement ExplicatioÌ„ but according to the power of endlesse life For hee that is God by his holy Prophet testifieth thus Thou art a Priest for euer after the order of Melchisedechâ— Heb. 7.16.17 The which excellencie and perfection of our Sauiours priesthoode is in the same place confirmed from hence that hee is aduanced to the right hand of God as this article of our Christian beliefe teacheth vs according also as it followeth in the some Epistle to the Hebrewes chapter 8.1 in these words Now of the things which we haue spoken saith the Apostle this is the summe that wee haue such an high Priest that sitteth at the right hand of the throne of the Maiestie in the heauens And is a Minister of the Sanctuarie and of the true Tabernacle which the Lord pight and noâ— man And therevpon also hee saith further verse 6. that the same our high Priest hath obtained a more excellent office insomuch as hee is the Mediator of a better Testament which is established vpon better promises c. Now what the fruites and benefites be which are most perfitly assured vnto vs and to the whole Church of our Sauiour Christ by this his sitting at the right hand of God in regard of his aduancement in his roiall Priesthood we are to call them to minde from that which hath beene obserued before concerning the sufferings and death of our Sauiour in the proper place thereof But whence is it that all those fruites should take their full effect from the sitting of our Sauiour in his priestly aduancement at the right hand of God Was it not sufficient that our Sauiour in the time of his humiliation suffered to death euen to the death vpon the Crosse to be a sacrifice for our sinnes seeing it is expresly saide in the 10. chapter of the same Epistle to the Hebrewes verse 14. that with one offering he hath consecrated for euer them that are sanctified Seeing also as the holy Apostle saith further in the same place the holy Ghost beareth vs record in that after hee said before This is the Testament which I will make vnto them after those daies saith the Lord I will put my lawes in their heart and in their mindes I will write them And their sinnes and iniquities will I remember no more Was not therfore I say the sacrifice of the death of our Sauiour in it selfe fully sufficient once for all without any further respect to this his sitting at the right hand of God Question The sufferings and death of our Sauiour were fully sufficient to the act of meriting all things for vs at the hand of God Answer once for all They were so in deede for so it followeth still in the same text verse 18. in these words Now where remission of these thinges is there is no more offering for sinne Question What was remaining then to be yet further fulfilled Answer Our Sauiour is risen againe froÌ„ the dead ascended vp into heauen thenceforth sitteth for euer at the right hand of God to dispence apply the fruits benefits of the same his merit to euery true beleeuer in him And to this purpose we are further taught assured that our Sauiour beeing at the right hand of God doth make continuall intercession for vs. This also is
were the Christ that should come or whether they should looke for another or no. But how may this be accounted a witnes Question giuen of our Sauiour Christ and for a confirmation that he is the true Christ when as it may seeme rather to be a recalling or recanting of all his former ministerie and testification into question and doubt Answere That Iohn was in no doubt at all himselfe but remained the same man in prison that he was before in the time of his libertie our Sauiour Christ doth plainely confirme as it followeth in the same places of holy Scripture Explication and proofe Our Sauiour doth so indeede For as he saith euen to preuent this doubt Iohn was no reed shaken with the wind but a Prophet yea greater then a Prophet c. These words make it plaine that Iohn sent his Disciples to our Sauiour with such a message not for that he himselfe was in any the least doubt of it but for their confirmation whom he sent and for the confirmation of many other from that answere which our Sauiour should giue This doubtles was the holy and wise purpose of Iohn in this practise of his And he taketh a very fit occasion giuen him vnto it by that report which his Disciples brought vnto him of the great works which our Sauior wroght And beside what more excellent way might he haue taken being shut vp himselfe then to direct his Disciples to vse their libertie in making resort to him by whom onely all true libertie redemption and saluation is to be found and who alone was able to put them out of all doubt and to establish them in the true faith Thus therefore â—he holy deuise of Iohn in sending his Disciples to our Sauiour was not of doubtfulnes in himself but to deliuer theÌ„ froÌ„ their doubting In which respect it is worthy to be marked of vs how our Sauiour did most excellently fit his answer and how God also by his diuine prouidence so disposed that at the very time when Iohns Disciples came to our Sauiour they found him working many and great miracles Luke 4.7.21 Then the which nothing could be more auailable to perswade them of that truth whereof they were in doubt according to that which we reade Iohn 10.41.42 Manie resorted to our Sauiour and said Iohn did no miracle but all thinges that Iohn spake of this man were true And many beleeued in him there And thus we haue by the grace of God collected gathered together the manifold testimonies of Iohn the Baptist tending all to the manifestation of our Sauiour Christ at the time of his entrance into his publike estate and condition of life The fruit also whereof was mentioned euen now in that they acknowledging all things to be true which Iohn spake of our Sauiour they beleeued in him and were no doubt thereby induced so to doe as were many thousands more From this whole discourse concerning Iohn the Baptist and his ministery we may iustly conclude now as was affirmed at the first as well from the prophecies which went before of him as by the historie shewing the accomplishment thereof that he was in speciall manner ordained and prepared sanctified furnished and authorised by God himself to be a most notable honourable instrument of his to this excellent end and purpose that he might be a speciall witnes of the comming of the true Messiah our Lord and Sauiour into the world according to that which we reade in the Euangelist Iohn ch 1. verses 6 7 8. who writeth thus of him There was a man saith he sent from God whose name was Iohn The same came for a witnes to beare witnes of the light that is of Christ that all men through him might beleeue He was not that light but he was sent to beare witnes of the light So that now there remaineth nothing to be said further of Iohn in this our exercise but that he who was so famous and faithfull a witnes to and of our Sauiour Christ in his life time was honoured of God with the crowne of martyrdome by his death in that he died a most constant holy witnes both of the iustice of the law in that speciall reproofe of Herod for the which hee was put to death and also of the righteousnes of faith in Christ to whom hee sent his Disciples as vnto the onely true Messias and Sauiour not long before the same his death Reade Matth. 11.2 c. And somewhat more fully Mark 6.14 c. But touching our selues and all other this addition we may make and truly affirme that in so much as God hath sent so singular a witnes to the appearance of his Sonne whosoeuer doe not beleeue in that Christ to whom Iohn the Baptist gaue testimonie cannot possibly beleeue in the true Christ And not onely so but this also may we truly affirme that whosoeuer will not be carefull more and more to confirme and strengthen their faith in the true Christ from the same testimony of Iohn the Baptist they doe neglect a fundamentall prop and stay thereof as may be euident both by the diligent record of it by euery one of the Euangelists as we haue seene and also by the often repetition thereof in the sermons and speeches of the Apostles as wee may reade Act. 10.37 and ch 11.16 and ch 13.24.25 and ch 19.4 Yea so that ch 1. verses 21.22 when an Apostle was to be chosen in the roome of Iudas such a one onely is prescribed to be eligible and as we may say capable of the holy office of Apostleship as had bin acquainted with Iohns ministery To God therefore be all singular praise and honour and glory from vs and his whole Church for this so excellent a witnes and Martyr of his and of our Lord Iesus Christ And he vouchsafe also to giue vs the right vse of this so worthie a testimony among other of his holy Prophets and of the Apostles of our Sauiour Christ that our weake and doubtfull hearts may be more and more established in the faith of the same our onely true and alone Sauiour to whom with the Father and the holy Ghost be all honour and glory now and for euer Amen ANd thus from the discouerie and manifestation of our Sauiour Christ at the time of his entering vpon his publike estate and condition of life we come to inquire of this most excellent part and remainder of the same his life as of that whereunto all the former discourse and preparatorie ministerie of Iohn the Baptist tended For albeit euery part of the life of our Sauiour as hath beene already declared is reuerendly and religiously to be regarded of vs euen from the time that he was first put into swadling clothes yet most of all is the latter part to be chiefely pondered and weighed as that wherein hee executed and performed in speciall manner all the parts of his most holy office of his Kingdome Prophetship and
blood which was let out of his side by the speare which the souldier thrust into it was a certaine proofe that he was verily dead Ioh. chap. 19.34 and 1. Epistle chap. 5. verse 6. and verse 8. And for the same cause also the death of our Sauiour is noted by the word of sacrificing because the sacrifices of the lawe which were figures of Christs death were slaine when they were sacrificed to God Now secondly that the death of our Sauiour was an accursed death and that therin he did beare the curse due to vs it is euident in that it was the death of the Crosse For the Lord himselfe saith The curse of God is on him that is hanged Deut. 21. verse 23. And that in bearing our curse hee remoued it from vs and procured vs all blessing it is likewise euident Galath chap. 3. verse 13.14 Christ hath redeemed vâ— from the curse of the law when he was made a curse for vs for it is written Cursed is euery one that hangeth on tree That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Christ Iesus that we might receiue the promise of the Spirit through faith And it standeth with good reason that the Sonne of God bearing the most cursed and ignominious punishment euen a dogges death as wee vse to speake of hanging yea worse then a dogges death in this kinde of hanging by nailes should procure and purchase thereby the greatest and most glorious blessing that might come vpon those for whom he according to the will of God indured so miserable and cursed a death So then insomuch as by the death of our Sauiour Christ our curse is remoued that is the wrath of God and all wofull effects thereof and seeâ—ng on the contrarie we are made partakers of all blessing euen as amply as euer the promise was made to Abraham the perfection of the obedience of our Sauiour and the most blessed fruites thereof vnto vs howsoeuer for the time most bitter and grieuous to him in the sense and sufferings of our nature is euidently argued as hath beene partly declared already But it shall furthermore be yet more fully cleared vnto vs if we consider in the perfection of the death of our Sauiour the perfection of that most holy and propitiatorie sacrifice whicâ— he our onely high Priest hath once for all offered vp to sanctâ—fie vs vnto God for euer To the which end let vs reade and marke well that which wee read Heb. 2 16.17.18 Our Sauiour saith the Apostle in no sort tooke the Angels but he tooke the seed of Abraham Wherefore in all things it became him to be made like vnto his brethren that he might be a mercifull and a faithfull high Priest in things concerning God that he might make reconciliation for the sinnes of the people For in that hee suffered and was tempted hee is able to succour them that are tempted And chap. 4 14.1â— The which perfection of the sacrifice of our Sauiour by his sufferings vnto death as also the perfection of his high Priesthoode by the most excellent vertue whereof the sacrifice was perfited they are in the same Epistle most notably laied forth and confirmed by a declaration of the excellent perfection of either of them â—euit 8. chap. 9. in comparison both of the high Priests and also of the sacrifices of the law and of Moses himselfe of whom the law beareth the name and whom God put in speciall authoritie and trust to see to the institâ—tion and administration of the ordinances thereof according to that which we read Heb. chap. 3.1 â— 3.4.5.6 and chap 10. from the beginning of the Châ—pter to the 19. verse The which it were needlesse to set downe here seeing all is neare hand and may easily be altogether in the view of euery christian Reader that will take his bible to peruse the same But heerewithall I would intreat him euen for his owne singular benefit to read that which our very learned and Christian brother M. Perkins hath written in his Exposition of the Creed concerning the excellencie of the sufferings of our Sauiour Christ vnto the death in this respect that hee thereby offered vp himselfe in sacrifice vnto God for vs. For as God hath blessed his good seruant with singular dexteritie in other things so in this notable point for one instance among the rest he hath blessed both him and vs by him in very gratious excellent manner The summe of all briefely if not ouer briefely for so excellent and large a Treatie it is thus much that the perfection of the sacrifice arising from the perfection of the Priesthood of our Sauiour because of the Deitie ioyned therein with the humanity which conferreth an infinite merit vertue and efficacie vnto it is as much aboue all sacrifices of the lawe as his Priesthood is exceeding the Priesthood thereof insomuch as he is a Priest of the most high order of Melchisedech who was both a King and a Priest yea infinitely excelling Melchisedech himselfe as is euident from his most royall and princely triumph vpon the altar whereon he offered himselfe The which though to speake of the externall matter of it wee may giue that name vnto the Crosse whereon hee was crucified and slaine as an heaue offering of eleuation to the Lord yet spiritually and as touching the most perfect holines and sanctifying power of this sacrifice we are to vnderstand that the Deitie of Christ in that he offered vp himselfe to God by the eternall Spirit was the only altar which sanctified this most high sacrifice for euer The excellencie whereof and of the most high Priest himselfe is further argued and blazoned as it were by a most princely triumph vpon the same Crosse as it were from his triumphant chariot by seauen notable effects as it were banners or ensignes of the same First the roiall title set vp ouer his head Secondly the most gratious and miraculous conuersion of the thiefe on the Crosse Thirdly the miraculous darkening of the Sunne by the space of 3. houres Fourthly the rending of the vaile of the temple from the top to the bottome Fiftly the mighty earthquake Sixtly the opening of the graues and cleauing of the stones Seâ—uenthly the testimony that his aduersaries are enforced by these glorious effects of his diuine Maiestie to giue vnto him I onely mention these things and leaue many other particulars vnmentioned desiring that they who haue not read these worthy things and the rest handled in that Exposition might be the rather induced to reade that Exposition it selfe not only in these points but in all the rest for the manifold benefit and fruit thereof Hetâ—erto of the death of our Sauiour Christ NOw it followeth according to our course and order we following therein the order of the holy Story it selfe that we doe come to consider of those things which did either accompanie or immediatly follow his death and and thenceforth such other things as did
watch at the execution and asked of him whether he had beene already dead Wherevpon saith the Euangelist further when hee knewe the truth of the Centurion that is when hee had confirmed that which Ioseph had saide before to Pilate hee gaue the body to Ioseph Thus then after that Pilate had commanded that the body should be deliuered to Ioseph as the Euangelist Matthewe writeth he is said to take it downe So that whether the souldiers did it with their owne hands or other whom Ioseph brought with him to doe it more tenderly and reuerendly then the Souldiers were like to doe it it is ascribed to Ioseph as if he had done it with his owne hands seeing as was saide in the beginning he was the procurer of it and could no doubt haue found in his heart most gladly to haue laide his owne handes vnto the worke for the reuerence that he did beare to the body of Christ whom before he had religiously honoured So good and godly a man was this Ioseph In this respect we must not neglect to consider that diligent description and honourable testimonie which euery one of the Euangelists giue concerning Ioseph The whole collection and rehearsall whereof out of them all may be in this order First he is described from the place of his birth which was a towne or citie of the Iewes called Arimathea as both Luke and the rest doe write The which Arimathea was no other citie then that Rama in the tribe of Beniamin neare to Gibeon and not farre from Ierusalem of the which wee reaâ— Iosh 18.25 Though in the Sirian language according to the dialect thereof somewhat otherwise called then it is in the Hebrew as learned interpreters doe obserue Secondly he is described from his outward estate first that hee was a rich man Secondly that he was an honorable Counseller or Senator one of the chiefe Elders and gouernours of the people and therefore in either respect more worthy commendation in that he feared not the enuie and danger that might the rather haue risen vp against him Thirdly he is described from his inward vertues and graces and that also two waies First in respect of his ciuill or more common conuersation among men in which respect he is commended for two notable vertues insomuch as he was both a good man and also a iust man the difference whereof reade Rom 5.7 And Ps 112.5 A good man is merciful lendeth These were his more common vertues euen such as doe specially concerne coÌ„munion and conuersation toward men He is described also in respect of his religion more directly toward God Discipulus christi is est qui quae vera sunt cum delectationâ— recipit Iosephus Antiquit Iudiac lib. 18. ch 4. First that he was a disciple of our Sauiour Christ that is such a one as was willing to be informed concerning the truth in matters of the religion and worship of God then in question and much corrupted and depraued among them though he was so in secret for feare of the Iewes as the Euangelist Iohn obserueth Secondly for a speciall note of his religion the Euangelist Luke saith that he was one of those that waited for the kingdome of God like as it is said of Simeon Luke ch 2.25 that he waited for the coÌ„solation of Israel And as now all good Christians are described to be such as waite for the second coÌ„ming of our Sauiour Christ Tit 2.13 2. Tim 14.8 Read also Marke chap 13 verse 33. c. Luke ch 12 35 36 37 38.39 verses Thirdly for a note of his religious and godly heart it is testified of Ioseph that he did not consent to the counsell and deede of them that put our Sauiour Christ to death For Ioseph had learned from the lawe of God not to followe the multitude to doe euill no though they be of the more mightie sort who decline to ouerthrowe the right as Tremellius interpreteth Exo 23.2 But is this enough not to consent with them Or is it not rather the dutie of euery one to stand against and to hinder their wrongs It is no doubt the dutie of euery one that hath power in his hand to doe it But it was at this time as the ouerflowing of the raging sea with the wicked Iewes And what was Ioseph that hee should be able to hinder the the same wherefore seeing hee could not staie their rage it was a great grace in him to withdrawe himselfe from them This is the notable description and testimonie which the holy Euangelists doe giue this worthy and notable man Ioseph who tooke this honourable care concerning the body of our Sauiour So that a most honourable cause or action and an honourable and worthy person are well met here together God of his infinite mercie giue vs grace to followe these his excellent vertues and namely his holy and resolute boldnesse in the open profession of his singular loue and reuerence toward our Sauiour Christ in a time of speciall reproach and danger whereby the former blemish of his fearefulnes is through the increase of the grace of God in this behalf vz. by this resolute act of his remoued and as â—t were buried with the honourable burial of our Sauiour Christ The which description and testimonie of the holy Euangelists that it may be the more clearely in our viewe as a goodly cleare glasse for vs to looke into it shall be profitable that we set downe the wordes of the other three as well as we haue done before the words of Saint Iohn Question Which therefore are they Answer The words of Saint Matthew are these And when the euen was come there came a rich man of Arimatheah named Ioseph Mat. 27. verse 57. who also himselfe had beene Iesus Disciple 58. He went to Pilate and asked the body of Iesus Then Pilate commanded the body of Iesus to be deliuered Chap. 27.57.58 The words of Saint Marke are these Mark 15. verse 42. And now when night was come because it was the day of the preparation that is before the Sabbath 43. Ioseph of Arimathea an honourable Counsellor who also looked for the kingdom of God came and went in boldly vnto Pilate and asked the body of Iesus 44. And Pilate maruelled if hee were already deade and called vnto him the Centurion and asked of him whether he had beene dead any while 45. And when he knewe the truth of the Centurion hee gaue the body to Ioseph ch 15.42.43.44.45 The words of Saint Luke are these Luke 23. verse 50. And behold there was a man named Ioseph who was a Counsellour a good man and a iust 51. He did not consent to the Counsell and deede of them he was of Arimathea a Citie of the Iewes who also himselfe waited for the Kingdome of God 52. He went vnto Pilate and asked the body of Iesus ExplicatioÌ„ Hethereto therefore of that part of this historie which concerneth the taking downe of the
vnderstanding answerable to the cause of it that is to say the loue of Christ the which is said likewise to passe knowledge Ephes 3.19 Fourthly that with this vnspeakable consolation we haue power giuen vs to walke in some measure of holines righteousnes oâ— life we may learne from the grounds of the Apostles exhortation Rom. 6.12 c. For it is grounded in the vertue and efficacie of the death of our Sauiour whereinto we are baptized as we saw before And ch 8.3 God saith the same Apostle sending his own Sonne in the similitude of sinfull flesh and that euen for sinne that is because of sinne he hath condemned sinne in the flesh that is by Christes sufferings in the flesh hee hath vtterly disabled disauthorised sinne froÌ„ all power of condemning the faithful And that hath God done as it followeth in the next verse to the end the righteousnes of the law might be fulfilled in vs to wit by the imputation of the perfect obedience of Christ vnto vs that we also as a fruit thereof might through his spirit of sanctification walk after the spirit not after the flesh To â—he which purpose also he saith further ver 10. If Christ be in you the body is dead because of sinne that is as touching sinne so that it beareth the sway or dominion no longer but the Spirit is life for righteousnes sake Or as touching righteousnes mighty to quicken vs to the actions therof And thus also he deriueth the ground of sanctification from the death of Christ speaking in his own person Gal. 2.19.20 I through the law saith Paul am dead to the law and that I might liue vnto God I am crucified with Christ Thus I liue yet not I now but Christ liueth in me and in that I liue now in the flesh I liue by faith in the Sonne of God who hath loued me and giuen himselfe for me Read also Heb. 9 13.14 For if the blood of Bulles and Goates and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling theÌ„ that are vnclean sanctifieth as touching the purifying of thâ— flesh How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternall Spirit offered himselfe without spot to God purge yâ—ur conscience froÌ„ dead works to serue the liuing God Fiftly that by the sufferings death of our Sauiour the blessings of this life are blessed and made comfortable vnto vs we may take one proofe from that which we read Psa 22. ver 26. where this is reckoned for a fruit benefit therof that the poore shal eate be satisfied And ver 29. All they that be fat in the earth shall eate and worship So that both poore and rich feele the benefit of the sufferings of our Sauiour Read also Act. 2.46 Christians did eate their meate together with gladnes and singlenes of heart Praising God they had sauour with all the people And that euen afflictions also are made beneficiall and comfortable vnto vs by the sufferings of our Sauiour see Heb. 12.2 3. c. Where they are held forth for a notable remedy against all fainting wearines in the middest of all trouble reproach yea and as a meanes of making vs partakers of the holines of God our heauenly Father and as leauing behind theÌ„ a quiet fruit of righteousnes Wherevpon the Apostle exhorteth afflicted Christians to lift vp their hands which hang down their weake knees c. verses 10.11.12 And Rom. 8.29 we are made like to the image of our Sauiour Christ by them It is also very comfortable that we in suffering any affliction for the loue we beare to our Sa Christ are for his sake in that hee hath suffered for vs accounted of God to haue coÌ„munion with him in his sufferings and he with vs. Act. 9.4.5 and Colos 1.24 Read also Philip. 3 8.9 10. And Rom. 8.17 If wee suffer with him we shall be glorified with him It is the ordinary and as it were the Kings high way to the kingdom of heauen to passe through many afflictions Act. 14.22 And 2. Tim. 2.11.12 And chap. 3.12 This causeth the seruants of God to reioice and to be of good cheare in the middest of their afflictions according to the exhortation of our Sauiour Luke 6.22.23 And of the Apostle Iames. chap. 1. ver 2. and of Peter 1 Ep. 4.12.13.14 All this doubtlesse is from the merit of the sufferings of our Sauiour for vs insomuch as of punishments they are by the vertue and grace thereof conuerted to be medicines to cure those euils that are in vs such as are selfe-loue and loue of the world c. yea they are turned to be blessed preparations and furtherances vnto vs toward the kingdome of God according to the holy Prouerb chap. 6 23. Corrections for instruction are the way of life And Ps 119. verse 67. Before I was afflicted I went astray but now I keepe thy word And verse 71. It is good for me that I haue beene afflicted that I might learne thy word Sixtly that we haue the right of dominion Lordship ouer the creatures restored vnto vs by the death of our Sauiour read Ps 8. conferred with Heb. 2.6.7.8.9 For though Adam at the first had this dignity by the right of creation through the bounteous mercy of God yet he lost it by his disobedience and presumption against God And he lost it not onely from himselfe but also from vs. Our recouerie of that interest is only by the redemption of our Lord Iesus Christ who alone is the heire of all things so that we are no better theÌ„ intruders and vsurpers of all whatsoeuer we hold not as it were by lease permission or by free deed of gift from him Seauenthly that the naturall death is by his death made a spirituall aduantage vnto vs we may be assured by that which we read Philip. 1.20.21 22.23 This aduantage doth first of all betide our soules in that they cease to sinne and in that they are first receiued to glory and then our bodies who resting from the toile of their labours are freed for euer from their infirmities and diseases and shall at the last day rise againe to the same glory Thus in death we haue through the death of our Lord Iesus Christ a plentifull remedy against death it selfe like as the Scorpion by the skill of the Phisitian yeeldeth a medicine against the venime of the owne stinging and so is also the cause of the owne death vnto it selfe Eightly whereas the holy Angels must needes be enemies against vs because of our sinfull rebellion against God they are nowe made our friends through our reconciliaâ—ion with God by the death of Christ Heb. 1.14 For doubtlesse it is with the holy Angels as with the seruants of a Prince in his Court who when any are in disgrace with the King all stand aloofe from them c. but if the King receiue the same partie or parties to fauour and doe pardon their offence then are they
though in Eue woman kinde was greatly dishonoured in that shee was first in sinne and thereby brought into speciall thraledome both to sinne and Satan yet in Christ they haue this honour to haue their part with the first yea before many men in the imbracing and honouring of him and in seeking that deliuerance and saluation which is brought to light and purchased by him ANd now that we may proceede to the remnant of like sweete consolations What is the comfort of this that albeit the malicious Iewes being superstitiously cruell as hath beene declared made sute to Pilate that the legges of our Sauiour might be broken and that although Pilate also a man of no constancy in his goodnes too easily granted them their sute yet God by his most gratious and diuine prouidence so ordered this matter and ruled both the hearts and hands of the souldiers in such sort that notwithstanding they brake the legges of both the theeues yet they brake no bone of our Sauiour Question What I say is the comfort of this Answer Beside that generall comfort which may iustly arise from the certaintie of Gods counsell and prouidence which can by no counsell or contrary endeuour of man be frustrated as the preuenting of the present counsel and endeuour of the Iewes may well be a very notable and chiefe instance Wee haue also two more special or particular comforts from the same Question Which are they Answere First it is alike notable instance concerning the truth and certaintie of the holy Scriptures in all things wherein they prefigure or foretell what the prouidence or fore appointment and purpose of God is concerning any thing to come Secondly it is a comfortable assurance vnto vs that our Sauiour Christ prefigured in the Paschall Lambe is our true Passeouer euen the Lambe of God sacrificed to take away the sinnes of the world by his death Explication It is very comfortable indeede in eyther of these respects For first insomuch as God had appointed the Paschall Lambe to be a figure of Christ euen in that no bone of it was to be broken therefore did the Lord so order the matter by his watchfull prouidence that as wee see it fulfilled by the testimonie of the holy history not a bone of our Sauiour was broken And secondly from that our further assurance which we haue hereby that our Sauiour is a Passeouer vnto vs through his blood sprinkled on our soules and bodies and apprehended by the hand of our faith through the sanctification of the Spirit of God and of our Sâ—uiour himselfe we haue from hence an infinite measure of comfort concerning our spirituall and eternall deliuerance from sinne death hell and damnation And on the contrary we haue like comfort concerning our translating into the most glorious possession of the kingdome of heauen aboue all the comfort which the Israelites could take in their bodily deliuerance out of the tyrannie of Pharaoh and aboue all the ioy of their temporall possessing of that goodly and fruitfull land of Canaan which God gaue vnto them For if we shall by faith truly feede vpon our Sauiour Christ who is our onely true Paschall Lambe making his flesh our meate and his blood our drinke to slake the hunger and thirst of our soules and to refresh vs in the sure hope of euerlasting life wee shall be most certainely so deliuered that not onely no deadly euilâ— shall be able to touch vs but also that wee shall bee partakers of most perfite and eternall blessing and heauenly happinesse Neither is that to be neglected in this point which a learned Interpreter obserueth That the bones of our Sauiour which are as the timber and strength of the bodie were preserued vntouched to the ende it might appeare to our comfort that in his greatest weakenes hee retained sufficient strength to performe all such things vnto vs fot the which he vouchsafed to die for vs. Beza Hom. 35. in Hist Pas And to this end also it is very comfortable for vs to consider that as God by his most gratious and diuine prouidence restrained the souldiers from breaking any one bone of our Sauiour to the contrarying of the former type and figure so by the same prouidence hee gaue liberty to one of the speare men to follow his cruell minde in a practise vnvsuall in that case to thrust our Sauiour with his speare or iaueline into the side yea as the effect argueth euen to to the very heart of him to the end another Scripture might be fulfilled as the Euangelist Iohn testifieth They shall see him whom they haue thrust through Yea and further also to the end that the blood of our Sauiour Christ yea his blood together with water issuing out of his blessed side as the same Euangelist testifieth might to our exceeding great comfort confirme vnto vs that the death of our Sauiour is vnto vs all in all whatsoeuer was prefigured by the legall purifications and washings with water and by all the bloodie sacrifices slaine by the appointment of God in the same his ceremoniall law that is to say that our Sauiour Christ is by his death and obedience to God both perfect iustification and also perfect sanctification vnto vs as well to beautifie vs with his righteousnes in the sight of God as to cleanse vs from the guiltines and filth of our owne sinnes In which respect the same Euangelist assureth vs to our comfort in the 5. chapter of his first epistle that this blood and water flowing out of the side of our Sauiour are two witnesses here vpon earth familiarly to testifie vnto vs that God hath appinted our Lord Iesus Christ to be a perfect Sauiour vnto his Church And for the amplification of this our comfort hee doeth in the same place first of all reckon another witnes beside these two namely the Spirit which is ready to warrant and performe effectually and in truth all whatsoeuer that blood and water doe represent vnto vs. And herevnto also that is to the sealing vp of this comfort serue the two Sacraments of our Lord Iesus Christ Baptisme and the Supper of the Lord in that either of them doe both signifie and assure vs that our Sauiour by his death is both iustification and sanctification vnto vs. Great therefore is the comfort of these things vnto vs they being truly beleeued of vs. Neuerthelesse here it is necessary that we doe obserue that whereas the Euangelist Iohn ascribeth these most sweete and comfortable fruites and benefits to that blood and water which issued out of the side of our Sauiour after that hee was now freshly dead that his meaning is not in any wise to exclude any part of his blood shed in the sense and feeling of Gods wrath for our sin either in his bloody sweate in the garden or by the distillation and dropping of his blood from his holy hands and feete while yet he liued hanging vpon the Crosse which was most properly and principally
hath reconciled vs to God c according to that of the holy Apostle Let him that reioyceth reioyce in the Lord c. 1. Cor 1.31 and Gal chap 6.14 Thus then all that haue any comfort in the sufferings and death of our Sauiour must humble themselues and be obedient to him as Heb 5.10 He was made the author of eternall saluation to them that obey him And if any will not doe thus let vs here remember againe what Iohn the Baptist hath said in the Gospel according to Iohn ch 3.36 He that obeyeth not the Sonne shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth on him And beside all that hath hetherto beene saide concerning this answer the consideration of the sufferings and death of our Sauiour for vs ought to prouoke vs to be willing with all meekenes to suffer for his sake as 1. Pet 2.19 and so forth to the end of the chapter Here call againe to mind Iohn 15.18.19.20 Virel Act 14.22 2. Tim 3.12 Heb 12.1.2.3.4 For as it is well said of one The seruants of God may not looke to be without afflictions and troubles here so long as the diuel is not without enuie nor the world without malice c. Herevnto therefore let vs not forget to prepare our selues according to the often admonitions of the holy Scriptures in this behalfe after the most blessed example of our Sauiour himselfe lest vnhappily wee should be like the vnaduised warriour or builder that neither considereth the charge of the matter nor the power of the aduersaries Luke 14.28 c. And lest we should be in the number of those which boast at the putting on of the harnesse as if they had already fought the battel were preseÌ„tly to put it off For such haue no good ground or warrant for hope of any prosperous and blessed successe And yet further this may in no wise be neglected of vs that all whatsoeuer we suffer or doe in obedience to our Sauiour Christ and for his sake it must proceed of loue and be willingly yea ioyfully both performed and indured of vs. For without loue all is nothing whether we respect God or men 1 Cor 13.1.2.3 And therefore worthily saith the same Apostle 2. Ep 5.14.15 The loue of Christ constraineth vs because we thus iudge that if one be dead for all then were all dead that is were worthy of death yea of eternall death And he died for all that they which liue should not henceforth liue vnto themselues but to him which died for them and rose againe Read also 1. Iohn 4.10.11 And Iames ch 1. verse 2. And 1. Pet 1.6 7.8.9 and ch 4.12 13. Finally the death of our Sauiour Christ doth most earnestly challenge this at our hands and at the hands of all faithfull Christians that we be very chary that we doe by no meanes in any point goe about to alter or violate that most holy couenant or last will and Testament which he hath for euer sealed and ratified by his most pretious blood Read Gal 3.15 and Heb 9.15 16 17. and ch 13.20 alledged a while since For this we must knowe that if we keepe not the wil of our Sauiour inuiolably we doe frustrate as it were all those legacies which he had bequeathed vs as may appeare by that which the Apostle teacheth coÌ„cerning the abuse of the SacrameÌ„t of his death 1. Cor 11.26.27.28.29 Thus then we may perceiue that according to the notable saying of a learned man Pet Mart in cap 5. ad Rom-verse 9. Nulium habemus librum vberiori doctrina refertum quam mortem Christi Eam si diligenter excutiamus omnia fermè officia quae ad salutem necessaria sunt edocebimur We haue no book filled with more plentifull instruction then the death of Christ The which if wee shall diligently search into wee shal be informed in all duties almost which be necessarie to saluation NOw from the duties of the death of our Sauiour let vs proceed to those things which accompanied his death Question And first what duties doth the consideration of the rending of the vaile of the Temple require of vs Ans It sheweth plainly that although the Iewes stood bound vntil the death of our Sauiour to worship God according to the outward ceremonies and sacrifices of the law yet since that time neither Iewe nor Gentile doe stand bound therevnto but are to worship God more spiritually according to the instructions and directions of the Gospel Explication and proofe It is euen of it selfe euident to be so indeede For seeing God himselfe hath rent the vaile and that also euen from the top to the bottome what reason or authoritie can any man haue to goe about to sowe it againe And much lesse can any haue any found reason or lawfull authoritie to hang vp another vaile in stead of it This hath beene laid open more at large in the interpretation and therfore we will not stay any longer vpon it at this time Question But is there no other dutie required Answer Insomuch as the kingdome of heauen both the kingdome of grace and also the kingdome of glorie is laied more open vnto vs by our Sauiour Christ then euer it was vnder the lawe as the rending of the vaile gaue to vnderstand wee ought therefore to be so much the more carefull not onely to make our enterance into the kingdome of grace but also to continue and increase in holines and in all good fruites thereof vntil it shal please God to take vs out of this world vnto himselfe euen to that place which is saide to be within the vaile that is into his heauenly kingdome of euerlasting blise and glorie Heb 6.19.20 Explication and proofe It is very meete indeed we should doe so vnlesse we would shew our selues intollerablie vnthankfull to God for his grace in so speciall manner offered vnto vs according to that notable exhortation in another place of the Ep to the Heb chap 10. verse 19. c. in these words Seeing therefore brethren that by the blood of Iesus we may be bold to enter into the Holy place By the new and liuing way which he hath prepared for vâ— through the vaile that is his flesh And seeing wee haue an high Priest which is ouer the house of God Let vs drawe neare with a true heart in assurance of faith sprinkled in our hearts from an euill conscience c. Thus the old vaile which shadowed beeing rent and taken away wee haue a newe vaile in Christ which giueth a cleare light vnto the kingdome of heauen and therefore we ought so much the more chearfully to walk on forward vnâ—o it Such therefore are the duties belonging to the comfort of faith touching the rending of the vaile of the Temple Question Now what is our dutie in consideration of the earth-quake cleauing of the stones and the opening of the graues at the death of our Sauiour Christ Answere Hereby we are admonished
exaltation and glory which followed the same his humiliation and sufferings For this is the orderly course of the reuealing of our Sauiour Christ to his Church And herein consisteth the whole doctrine of our beleefe in him the second person of the most holy and blessed Trinitie the Son of God that he hath taken our nature to the end he might be a meet mediator for vs vnto God to the purchasing and performing of our eternall redemption iustification and saluation According to that which our Sauiour himselfe said to two of his Disciples the same day wherein he rose againe from the dead O yee fooles saith he and slowe of heart to beleeue all that the Prophets haue spoken Ought not the Christ to haue suffered these things and to enter into his glory Luke 24. ver 28. According also to that of the Apost Peter 1. ep 1.10.11 Where he affirmeth that the prophets inquired diligently after the time and season wherein the sufferings of our Sauiour should be reuealed and the glory which should follow the same Vnto whom as the Apostle saith further it was reuealed that not vnto themselues but that vnto vs they should minister the things which are shewed vnto vs. c. And according to that of the Apostâ—e Paul Act. 26.22.23 I witnes no other things but those which the Prophets and Moses did say should come to passe to wit that Christ should suffer and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead c. Wherefore seeing by the ministerie of the Euangelists Apostles the glory of our Sauiour Christ which followed his sufferings is reuealed vnto vs in the holy Scriptures of the new Testament as wel as the sufferings themselues let vs according to the example of the holy Prophets inquire afâ—er the same First of all therefore Question what was the glory or exaltation which followed after the humiliation and sufferings of our Sauiour Answere The glory of our Sauiour Christ which followed his sufferings comprehendeth First the deposition or laying down and leauing of al his humane infirmities and naturall weaknesses in the graue Secondly the recouering assuming and taking to himself that whole perfection of our humane nature wherein God at the first had created Adam yea and that in a more excellent and perfect degree at might best beseeme the naturall Sonne of God the eternall King and Sauiour of his people Thirdly the glory of our Sauiour Christ comprehendeth that more cleare sensible and full manifesting of his diuine nature and the infinite power and grace thereof both by the raising vp of the body from the dead anâ— also bâ— the ascending of the whole humane nature both body and soule vp into heauen to the right hand of the Maiestie of God Fourthly it comprehendeth that possession of all souereigne and diuine power which he hath in heauen euen in that he is in the nature of man The gruÌ„d and meaning of his glorification in generall the Comfort arising froÌ„ the same seated at the same right hand of God the Father to rule and gouerne all things Finally the glory of our Sauiour Christ comprehendeth that authoritie which he hath euen in that he is the Sonne of man to iudge the whole world at the last day Thus large indeed is the glorie and exaltation of our Sauiour Christ euen in his humane nature Explication proofe answerable to the degrees of his humiliation considered before at large The which humiliation of our Sauiour we will here briefly cal to mind for the more cleare illustration of that glory which we doe presently inquire of For like as though he were the Son of God in most high glory one with the Father yet humbled himselfe first to take our humane nature to the diuine â—n personall vnion secondly in that same personal vnion to take all the infirmities of the same our humane nature euen all infirmities which sin hath brought vpon vs such as are hunger thirst wearines faintnes sorrow yea so as in this respect he hath yeelded himselfe in all things like vnto vs sin onely excepted as the holy Apostle teacheth vs thirdly in the same our nature to be subiect to the whole law of God both ceremonial therfore was ccircuÌ„cised morall therfore was subiect to his naturall parents judicial therefore was subiect to death by ciuil iudgemeÌ„t yea fourthly more then this to bear the whole curse of the law spiritual punishmeÌ„ts in his soule whatsoeuer were to be indured of him for vs to a kind of death therof in feeling the horrour of Gods forsaking of his creature for a time so far as it might be a punishment of our sinne vpon him without any sinful forsaking of God on his part as we had done finally as our Sauiour being the Son of God humbled himselfe not onely to death but euen to descend into the graue and to lye for a time in the most low and base estate condition of the dead as touching his body so after the humiliation euen of the diuine nature after a sort by reason of the personall vnion with the humane for the work of our Redemption and saluation the humane nature the same work of our redemption accomplished hath bin glorified and exalted with a certaine diuine glory in such sort as hath bin also expressed Both which points of our faith as wel humiliation as exaltation glory of our Sauiour the Apostle Paul doth notably comprise in that one place of his holy ep or letter sent to the Philippi as we read ch 2. v. 5. Let the same mind be in you saith the Apostle that was euen in Christ Iesus c. euen to the 11. v. I pray read the text in your Bible And Act. 3.13 The God of Abraham Isaak Iaakob the God of our Fa hers saith the Apostle Peter hath glorified his Son Iesus whom ye betraied c. The comfort of this most high glorie exaltation of our Lord and Sau Chr in our humane nature after that he had perfectly humbled himselfe and suffered for our sins in the same though personally vnited to the diuine nature the comfort is exceeding great in this most exceeding great work mysterie of our redemption according to the thanks-giuing of the Virgine Mary Luk 1.46 c. according to the thanks-giuing of Zacharias as it followeth in the same ch froÌ„ the 68. v. And euen herein is the comfort exceeding great that we may reioice with ioy vnspeakable glorious seeing the fruite of this humiliation exaltation of our Saui is our saluatioÌ„ glory also according to that Heb 2.9.10 We see Iesus crowned with glory honour who was made a litle inferiour to the Angels through the sufferings of death that by Gods grace he might tast death for all men c. Wherby as it followeth he brought many children vnto glory c. And 1. Pet 1 9 In whom you beleeue reioyce with ioy
of saluation knowne and assured to all that would by faith imbrace and acknowledge him to bee their Sauiour and that euen of the meere grace and fauour of God through him how worthie soeuer they bee in themselues of eternall death and condemnation In which respect the Gospel is called the word of reconciliation 2. Cor. chap. 5. verses 18 19 20 21. Not that our Sauiour would not haue the Law and the morall duties thereof preached for hee himselfe commandeth that euery man bee carefull to obey them but hee sheweth what that is which his Apostles and so all other the Ministers and Preachers of his holie word should principally intende And yet as touching the Lawe it appeareth thereby that though hee came not as hee himselfe professeth to destroy or vtterly to dissolue and loosen the authoritie of it catalusai but rather to establish it as it is a rule of righteousnesse and obedience to GOD yet he would not haue it preached otherwise then as being to the benefite of all true beleeuers fulfilled in him so by him who is the end and fulfilling of the Law in that the righteousnesse thereof is performed the curse is remoued and all transgression and guiltinesse of sinne is perfitly satisfied for touching all such as haue truly repented and haue vnfeined care to serue God in the obedience of it though they cannot fulfill it but in many things though to their godly griefe doe sinne against it as elsewhere hath beene more fully declared and as we may reade testified and confirmed Matth. 5 17. And Rom. 3.31 and chap. 10.4 and Gal. 3.24 and 1. Tim. 1.5 6 7 8 9 10. Now as touching the manner of teaching the Gospel which our Sauiour requireth that is contained in the word Preach the which according to the vse of the Greeke word cerusso or cerutto and more nearely from the Latine word Praeco which properly signifieth a Crier which vttereth things with a lowd voyce whether proclamations of lawes and edicts of Princes or of things set forth to common sale It is metaphorically or in a borrowed sense applied in the holy Scripture to signifie an earnest and zealous and audible publishing of the gratious message and counsell of God touching the saluation of his people according to that Isai 40.4 where Iohn the Baptist a most earnest and zealous Preacher is prophecyed of vnder the name of a Crier in the wildernesse And chap. 58.1 the Lord commandeth his holy Prophet to crie alowd And Ionah chap. 1.2 Goe to Niniueh and crie against it c. And againe chap. 3.2 Crie out that outcry that is preach the preaching which I bid thee The which open and earnest publishing our Sauiour expresseth elsewhere when he saith What I tell you in darknesse that speake ye in light and what ye heare in the eare that preach you on the houses Matth. 10.27 And furthermore what is meant by preaching wee may more fully vnderstand by that which the Apostle of our Sauiour Christ Saint Paul writeth 2. Tim. 4.2 Preach the word saith he be instant in season and out of season improue rebuke exhort with all long suffering and doctrine Preach the word saith the Apostle And because it might be demanded But what meane you by preaching He addeth improue rebuke exhort c. as though he should say This is preaching when the word of God and holie Scriptures are so interpreted that the truth is opened by collection of doctrine errour in iudgement is conuinced wickednesse of life is reproued slouthfulnesse to good duties is by exhortation chased away as much as may bee by the wise ministerie of the Preacher c. For to these ends are the holy Scriptures giuen of God to his church and put into the handes of his faithfull Ministers as the same Apostle teacheth in the same his Epistle in the end of the chapter immediately going before And all this must be done not in curious affected eloquence after the manner of Heathen Orators neither in affected obscuritie vnder a colour of profound learning as some of the heathen Philosophers haue done but in as much plainnes and simplicitie as may both best sute and answer the grauitie of the holy Scriptures and also be most fit for the edification of those that be the most weake and simple of the whole auditorie and congregation according to the example and instruction of the same excellent Apostle 1. Cor. 2.1 2 3 4 c. But of all that belongeth to the right manner of Teaching time will not serue vs to speake now Such as vpon this occasion desire to consider of this matter further may haue recourse to that which is set downe in the beginning of the former part of our Treasurie Onely let vs here obserue this one thing more concerning Preaching that this is the gratious meanes which the mightie Prince our Sauiour vseth to subdue his people by and that he differeth herein from all the Tyrants of the world who subdue people by fire and sword euen as much as heauen is distant from the earth For they destroy life before they teach the right vse of it or shew the way to a better c. The last point which wee are for the present to consider of is the end of Teaching the which as our Sauiour giueth to vnderstand in the words of his commission to his Apostles is obedience not in this or that instruction onely with neglect of any of the rest but in all things so farre forth as our Sauiour requireth of euery one both generally touching the common duties of christianitie and particularly touching the duties of euery man in respect of his seuerall estate condition and calling Qu. In what words doth our Sauiour expresse thus much An. Teaching them saith our Sauiour to obserue all things whatsoeuer I haue commanded you Explicatiō Our Sauiour meaneth whatsoeuer he had commanded them to teach euerie man what belongeth vnto him in such respects as were euen now mentioned According to that which the Apostle Paul writeth concerning himselfe and the rest in testimonie of their obedience to the commandement of our Sauiour Col. 1.28.19 We preach Christ the hope of glorie admonishing euery man and teaching euery man in all wisedome that we may present euery man perfect in Christ Iesus wherevnto I also labour and striue according to his working which worketh in mee mightily And 1. Thessal 4.1 2. And furthermore we beseech you brethren and exhort you in the Lord Iesus that you increase more and more as you haue receiued of vs how you ought to walke and please God For yee know what commandements we gaue you by the Lord Iesus And 1. Cor. 11.23 concerning the supper of the Lord I haue receiued of the Lord saith the same Apostle that which I haue deliuered vnto you And the Apostle Peter 2. Epistle chap. 3.1 2. This second Epistle I now write vnto you beloued wherewith I stirre vp and warne your pure mindes to call to remembrance the
wide open for the preaching of the Gospell to euerie people and Nation vnder heauen 4 Fourthly by the power of the resurrection of our Sauiour wee are quickened to newnesse and holinesse of life 5 Moreouer by the vertue of the same we are strengthened and confirmed to all holy constancie in the faith and seruice of the Gospel vnder the blessed hope of immortalitie and heauenly glory 6 Furthermore we haue by it a setled cōfort against the vncertainty of our fraile transiterie life yea against all the troubles of it and against death it selfe and all the terrors and dismayings thereof seeing our Sauiour hath perfectly vanquished and ouercome them for vs. 7 And yet more then these the resurrection of our Sauiour is a reall confirmation that our bodies though they must die in corruption weakenesse and dishonour as naturall bodies for a finall conuiction and farewell of sinne yet they shall by the sauing power of the resurrection of our Sauiour Christ bee raised vp againe and made spirituall bodies incorrupt and glorious neuer to returne to corruption againe 8 The resurrection of our Sauiour is also an euidence that be is ordained of God to be the iudge of the world 9 Finally it is a most pregnant confirmation and application of all the fruits and benefits which he hath purchased for vs by his death and by all other his manifold sufferings going before the same Explication and proofe The resurrection of our Sauiour is indeede as the sealing vp of all these fruits and benefites vnto vs and therefore it may well be exceedingly comfortable vnto vs and his whole Church For as our Sauiour died not in the state of a priuate man but in the behalfe of the Church so also did hee not rise againe so much for himselfe as for the benefit of it But let vs see some proofes of holy Scriptures for these things For the proofe of the first part of this answer we may read Rom. 1.3 4. And 1. Pet. 1.21 where the resurrection of our Sauiour is alledged for a proofe that he who is our Sauiour is the Sonne of God And that it is furthermore a proofe that he is the promised Messias it is euident in that it is an accomplishment of the former prophesies which were giuen forth thereof as we saw before and may iustly here call to minde againe Psal 16. Isai 53.8 c. and chap. 55.3 Our Sauiour himselfe also before his death foretolde the same as a signe and confirmation thereof Matth. 12.39.40 Iohn 2.18.19 Reade also chap. 20.9 And in the Law the scape goate and the liue sparrow let loose may well be accounted figures of the resurrection and so the resurrection an accomplishing of the same as the slaine goate and killed sparrow were figures of his death Leuit. 14.4 5 6 7. And chap. 16.5 6 7 8 9 10. as was obserued once before For the proofe of the second part reade Rom. chap. 4. verses 22 23 24 25 26 where note that the Apostle affirming that our Sauiour being deliuered to death for our sinnes is risen againe for our instification hee maketh the imputation of his righteousnesse and our iustification one and the same thing So that to be iustified in the sight of God is to haue the righteousnesse of our Sauiour Christ imputed to vs who hath perfectly fulfilled it on our behalfe euen as he was perfectly sanctified of God himselfe to that end according as it is nearely lincked with it Rom. chap. 1. verses 3 4. alledged before Declared mightily to be the Sonne of God touching the spirit of sanctification by the resurrection from the dead And as we reade 1. Tim. 3.16 God manifested in the flesh iustified in the the spirit Yea all the places alledged before to shew that our Sauiour was raised vp from the dead and exalted by the hand of God himselfe they are so many proofes that by his holy verdict his iustice is fully satisfied and that our Sauiour hath procured our perfect Quietus est from all our sinnes For if any one of our sinnes had not been fully satisfied for by him who was made sinne for vs or if any thing had beene wanting touching our Sauiour his owne holinesse and righteousnesse God would neuer haue raised him vp nor acknowledged vs to bee made the righteousnesse of God in him But now our Sauiour being declared to be perfect iust holy by the spirit of righteousnes sanctificatiō bearing witnes thervnto by his resurrectio on our behalfe as before wee are hereby assured that we haue our full discharge whenas otherwise wee should haue beene still in our sinnes 1. Cor. 15. verses 17 18. Reade also Act. 13.37 38 39. And Rom. 10.4 5 6 7 8 9. And 1. Pet. 21. A good conscience looketh to the resurrection of our Sauiour for the setling of the peace of it And Philip. 3 8 9 10. This is that vertue of our Sauiour which the Apostle Paul so highly valueth aduanceth that in comparison of it he counteth all things dung and meere losse Yea this is that life which he liued in Christ or rather which Christ liued in him according as it is said The iust shall liue by faith to wit in the apprehension of Christs righteousnesse thus manifested by his resurrection to be their owne through the most gratious imputation of God Gal. 2.19 20 21. Rom. 1.17 For the proofe of the third part of the answer reade Iohn 7.38 39. and chap. 20. verse 21. the ordination of the Apostleship and ministery of the Gospel Reade also Luke 24.47.48 49 Acts 2.17 18 32 33. And 2. Tim. 1.9 10 11. These things indeede were not performed till after the ascension neuerthelesse the resurrection made way and was as the first step vnto it For the proofe of the fourth part reade Rom 6.4 5. 2. Cor. 5.14 15. Eph. 1.19 c. and chap. 2.1 Acts 3.26 and chap. 5.31 Colos 2.12 13. and chap 3.1 c. This rising vp to newnesse of life is called the first resurrection Reuel 20.5 And it is the way to attaine vnto the second For let vs note well that albeit God doth fauourably behold vs in Christ onely for our perfect iustification before him yet this is no dispensation to vs that we should continue in sinne but it calleth for sanctification at our hands without the which no man shall see the Lord as we reade Heb. 12.14 And it is also necessary for vs to the end that from the fruits of our sanctification we may haue the comfortable perswasion of our iustification Rom. 6.1 c. And that we are elect and chosen to saluation 2. Pe 1 10. Yet so as we must in no part relie vpon our owne holinesse or works which will alwaies be failing and vnperfect but on our Sauiour alone by whom we are iustified For proofe of the first part reade 1. Pet. 1.3 4 5 c. Blessed be God euen the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ who according to
earthly corruptible and sinfull body Beliefe that to euery true member of the Church of God The grouÌ„d of the article belongeth the glorious resurrection of the body NOw let vs returne to the Article of the resurrection of the body it selfe at the last day the which we may wel reckon for a second benefit after this life Question What ground of holy Scripture haue you for it Answer It is laid downe vnto vs at large in the whole 15. chap. of the first Epistle of S. Paul to the Corinthians Explication and proofe It is so in deed And we will at this time answerable to our large handling of the former Articles of our beliefe take this most large warrant and confirmation of it And the rather also because it is so set downe and discussed by the holy Apostle that together with the certaine proofe of it to the reproofe of some among the Corinthians who began to call it into question he doth likewise shew the Meaning Promise vse of the Article both for Comfort and also for Dutie together with the Danger of not beleeuing it as we shall by the grace of God perceiue by our examining of the Apostles most excellent discourse But though the chapter be long yet will we by the same grace of God vse such breuitie as it shall not seeme tedious to any Christian heart that reioyceth in the truth of God The Apostle in this chapter disputeth and determineth three very weightie questions to the end hee might for euer put them out of all doubt in the Churches of God First that there is a resurrection of the body Secondly what manner of bodies the bodies of the faithfull shall be when they rise againe whosoeuer shall be found dead from the beginning of the world to the end thereof Thirdly how God will deale with the bodies of the faithfull whosoeuer of them shall be found liuing vpon the face of the earth at the last day when our Sauiour shall come to iudge the world The first of these questions is disputed and concluded from the beginning of the chapter to the 35. verse The second from the 35. verse to the 51. The third in the 51.52 and 53. verses From the which so large a discourse of the holy Apostle wee may fully and plainely vnderstand the meaning of this Article Moreouer the Comfort of this Article of our faith is set downe verses 54.55.56.57 Wherein also is contained the Promise from the propheticall testimonie of Hosea The Duties belonging to the Comfort of this Article are to be seene verse 58. And finally the Danger of not beleeuing this Article is euident euen from the second verse of this chapter And againe verses 13.14 c. to the 20. And yet againe verses 29. and 32. Let vs therefore consider of these excellent points treading as it were in the foote-steppes of the holy Apostle onely reseruing the Danger of not beleeuing to the last place according to our vsuall course And first of all that singular wisedome is to be obserued which the Apostle vseth in his entrance to treat of these things For where as he knew wel that the Diuell would subtilly take all the aduantages that hee could against the truth that it might be forsaken of the Corinthians hee doth for the same cause lay hold of all the aduantages which God had giuen him for the confirming and setling of it Belief that to euerie true member of the Church of God belogeth the glorious resurrection of the body in their hearts To this purpose he doth most prudently insinuate foure speciall thinges which might iustly be of good weight to stay the hearts of the Corinthians in the assured beliefe of the whole doctrine of the Gospel generally First because he being as they themselues were perswaded a faithfull Apostle of Iesus Christ had preached this truth vnto them according to the commandement of Christ was now in like faithfulnes with all good assurance readie constantly to confirme it in all points vnto them Secondly because they for their parts had by the grace of God receiued and embraced the same doctrine of the Gospell in all points for the truth of God as it is indeede Thirdly because they had for a good season retained it faithfully without doubting of the truth of it in any fundamentall point especially and therefore could not now without so much the greater note of lightnes and inconstancie call any such point into question Fourthly because in the entier beliefe of the Gospell without exception against any one foundamentall Article therof standeth the saluation of all Christians Question But in what words of the Apostles text are these generall insinuations contained Answer They are contained in the first two verses of the chapter in these words 1. Moreouer brethren saith the Apostle I declare vnto you the Gospel which I preached vnto you which ye also haue receiued and wherein ye continue 2. And whereby ye are saued â—f ye keepe in memorie after what manner I preached it vnto you except ye haue beleeued in vaine ExplicatioÌ„ These words as we may easily see doe containe those most wise insinuations of the Apostle expressed before Wherevnto also he annexeth these words of generall caueat Except ye haue beleeued in vaine Not that he would call into question the truth and constancie of their faith but doth admonish them to take heed lest by any meanes they should fall away from any Article of it and so hazard their saluation Now in the next place that is to say from the beginning of the third verse and so forth vnto the 12 the holy Apostle intending to dispute more particularly with all holy force of Apostolical argumentation against such as called the Article of the resurrection of the body into question he doth first of all most skilfully lay downe and confirme the bodily resurrection of our Sauiour Christ which is as it were the ground and foundation of the resurrection of ours And he doth it in this order First and formost from the Apostolical authoritie of his former preaching touching this point Secondly from the authority of the former or more ancient Scriptures of the old Testament Thirdly by an argument of paritie or equall comparison in that the resurrection of our Sauiour is as certainely confirmed both by propheticall and also historicall testimonie as is his death and buriall or any thing else that is written of him and therfore ought to be as firmely beleeued as any other Article besides euen as they would looke to be saued For as it is saide concerning the law that insomuch as one Lawe-giuer gaue all the commandements of the morall Lawe none can so soone tread vnder foote and despise one but hee breaketh and violateth all as wee reade Iames 2.10 so in the doctrine of the Gospell in so much as all the Articles therof are giuen by our one only Sauiour and do concerne one the same entiere saluation none can denie
were the Sadduces as we haue seene before Likewise Hymineus Philetus 2. Tim. 2.16.17.18 who affirmed that the resurrection is past already and by that their hereticall doctrine destroied the faith of certaine as the Apostle saith Of this hereticall stocke or linage is H. N. with his schismatical Familie of loue who make nothing but an allegorie of the bodily resurrection though it be most simply and plainely affirmed in the holy Scriptures as we haue seene Whence it is also that the schollers of this Family are so dastardly and of so euill consciences that by shamefull dissemblings they shunne all open and plaine profession of that which they hold so soone as they see thēselues to be in danger of suffering any bodily affliction for the same Danaeus that learned writer reckoneth vp vnto vs 19. sorts of heretikes on a row which denied the resurrection of the body to wit the Simonians the Saturninians the Basilidians the Carpocratians the Valentinians the Marcites the Ophites the Caians the Sethians the Archontikes the Cerdonians the Marcionites the Apellites the Seuerians the Bardesanistes the Heraclites the Seleucians the Hermians the Procitans And we know besides how the fine witted Athenians mocked at the Apostle Paul so soone as he had made mentiō of the resurrection from the dead Wherefore to the end we may auoide this so great and so common a danger whereinto so many haue fallen let vs I beseech you make the more precious account of that blessed diligence which the holy Apostle hath vsed in the proofe of this Article The which seeing he hath done it so substantially plentifully that none can desire either greater strength of reason or more comfortable ground of holy Scripture to put the matter out of all doubt for euer let vs so looke to the almighty power of God and so rest our selues vpon his most gratious good will and pleasure herein through our Lord Iesus Christ that abandoning all erroneous and heretical conceites we may firmely holde the truth of this most comfortable Article And from the comfort of it let vs likewise haue care to walke in all those good duties which may guide vs to the blessed fruition of it to the glory of God and to our owne euerlasting comfort and saluation both in body and soule together Amen Beliefe that to euery true member of the Church of God belongeth the inheritance of euerlasting life Question NOw what is that which remaineth of the Articles of our beliefe Answer The last Article is this I beleeue that there is an euerlasting life Question What ground of holy Scripture can you alledge for the proofe and warrant of it Answer We haue a plaine proofe and warrant of it Act. 13. verses 46 47.48 in these words 46. Then Paul and Barnabas spake boldly aad said It was necessarie that the word of God should first haue beene spoken vnto you but seeing ye put it from you and iudge your selues vnworthy of euerlasting life lo we turne to the Gentiles 47. For so hath the Lord commanded vs saying I haue made thee a light of the Gentiles that thou shouldest be the saluation to the end of the world 48. And when the Gentiles heard it they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord and as many as were ordained to euerlasting life beleeued Many worthy things are contained in these words Explicatiō First as wee easily see both the Apostle Paul and also Barnabas consenting with him doe not coldly or doubtfully affirme but with singular boldnes and resolution giue an assured testimonie of the euerlasting life of all the faithfull Secondly they shew by what meanes God guideth and draweth his children to the inheritance of euerlasting life to wit by the preaching of the Gospell of our Sauiour Christ vnto them which is the word of life and saluation The which because many of the obstinate Iewes refused to hearken vnto and embrace they are said to refuse euerlasting life it selfe thereby most gratiously offered vnto them Thirdly they describe who they be to whom euerlasting life belongeth namely to these that doe beleeue and embrace the Gospell whereby our Sauiour Christ is preached vnto them Not onely to such among the Iewes but also to euery such one among vs the Gentiles Finally they testifie of our singular comfort that it is the eternal decree and counsel of God that it should be so To the end therefore beloued in the Lord that we may stirre vp our selues to the embracing of the doctrine and faith of this Article Let vs consider of it according as it is in deed as of that which cōtaineth the chief benefit yea euen the onely full perfiting of all whatsoeuer the manifold and most precious benefits which our Sauiour Christ hath purchased and obtained for vs. It is that very scope which God himselfe propounded to himselfe in his owne most sacred purpose to the glorious and eternall praise of the riches of his grace euen before the world was And for this cause it is that as our Sauiour himselfe affirmeth God hath giuen his onely begotten Sonne to be borne of a woman The groūd of the article and to die for our sinnes As Iohn 3.16 So God loued the world that he gaue his onely begotten Sonne that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life To this purpose also God hath poured forth his Spirit vpon his Church to testifie his glorious grace and to guide vs to the obtaining of this euerlasting life The wisedome of the Spirit is life and peace Rom. 8.6 and verse 11. As this euerlasting life is the chiefest blessing of all other so hath God most gratiously manifested and confirmed the same to his Church from time to time Hee did it to Adam in his paradise euen from the beginning of the creation in that hee gaue him the tree of life to be a Sacrament to him of immortality if he would haue continued faithfull in his obedience to God And after that by disobedience he had lost it and therewithall pulled death vpon himselfe and his posteritie such was the gratious goodnes of God that for his recouerie hee gaue him the promise of our Sauiour Christ who should be to him and to all that should beleeue in the same our Sauiour more effectuall to their saluation then that tree of life could be to Adam as wee are giuen to vnderstand by that allusion which the Spirit of God maketh therevnto when this benefit of euerlasting life is assured vnto vs. Reuel ch 2.7 And againe ch 22.2 Moreouer for a reall confirmation of this his most gratious purpose to bestowe this vnspeakeable blessing vpon his people it pleased God to take away faithfull Henoch before death into his heauenly kingdome out of this world so that as the holy Scripture testifieth He sawe not death Gen. 5.21 and Heb. 11.5 In like manner for the confirmation hereof to the ages following he tooke vp the Prophet Elijah from earth
into heauen so that he died not after the common manner of men The burnt-offerings of the lawe ascending by fire from the altar vp to heauenward from whence they were called in the holy language gnoioth of gnala ascendere to ascend they represented to the faithfull that their sinnes are so done away by the sacrifice of Christ and their persons so accepted that the way to heauen is by his sufferings prepared for them The scape-goate also in the law may not vnfitly be a representation hereof To speake all in a word the promise of euerlasting life to the Church and people of God was as we may say the life of the couenant of God made at the first and often renued to his people and namely to Abraham Isaak and Iacob according to that interpretation which our Sauiour himselfe gaue of it against the contrary errour of the Sadduces as we haue seen before Whence also he saith expresly Ioh. 17.3 This is eternall life that they know thee the onely true God and whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ And the Apostle of our Sauiour 2. Tim 2.9.10 certifieth vs that our saluation was giuen vs through Iesus Christ before the world was But as hee saith further is now made manifest by the appearing of our Sauiour Iesus Christ who hath abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel That is to say it is now more clearely more generally made manifest in the Church then it was before Thus then we seeing that this Article hath sufficient ground and warrant in the holy Scriptures let vs in the next place come to the sense and meaning of it Question WHat therefore is the meaning of these words The meaning of the article I beleeue the euerlasting life Answer It teacheth me and all Christians to beleeue that after this natural life ended there is another life and another world which God hath prepared and will certainely giue to his elect wherein the whole catholike Church of Christ shall glorifie and praise God and be partakers of his heauenly glory for euer through the worthines and efficacie of the death and resurrection of our Sauiour Christ who to the same end and purpose liueth and raigneth for euer and euer with him It teacheth me also to beleeue that I my selfe being a member of this Church of God The meaning of the Article shall haue my part and portion in this euerlasting life and in the happines and glory thereof in soule first after my bodily death immediately and at the appearance of our Sauiour Christ to iudge the world both in body and soule together world without ende Yea I beleeue acccrding to this Article that through faith I haue alreadie an entrance into euerlasting life euen while I remaine yet in this transitorie world and in that mortall body which I carrie about with me here It is true according to that of our Sauiour Christ Iohn 5. â—4 Verily verily I say vnto you he that heareth my word and beleeueth in him that sent me hath euerlasting life ExplicatioÌ„ proofe and shall not come into condemnation but hath passed from death vnto life Likewise according to that of the Apostle Paule alledged before Romanes 8.6 The wisedome of the Spirit is life and peace And verse 10. If Christ be in you the body is dead because of sinne but the Spirit is life for righteousnes sake Read also Gal 2.20 Thus I liue not I now but Christ liueth in me And Colos 3 4. When Christ which is our life shall appeare then shal yee also appeare with him in glory And 1. Pet 1 3 4. We are now begotteÌ„ to a liuely hope to an inheritaÌ„ce immortal c. And ver 23. Being borne anew not of mortall seed but of immortall c. And 1 Ioh 3.14 We know that we are translated from death to life because we loue the brethren To the better and more distinct vnderstanding of this Article it is necessarie that we doe first of all presuppose three things The first is the spirituall death of the soule in a seperation from the fauour and loue of God The second is the naturall death of the body which is caused by the seperation of the soule from it both of them being fruites of sinne though to the godly by the mercies of god through our L Ie Ch the bodily death is but the way to a better life that is to this most endles happy life whereof we speak The third is the revniting of the soule to the body at the resurrection thereof Of the which things we haue heard before And the Apostle comprehendeth them all in one sentence where he sheweth what is the issue of all Gods mercies toward vs through our Sauiour Christ saying thus Rom chap 5 21. That as sinne had reigned vnto death so might grace also reigne by righteousnes vnto eternall life through Iesus Christ our Lord. And ch 6.23 The wages of sinne is death but the gift of God is eternall life through Iesus Christ our Lord. It is further also necessarie to the vnderstanding of this Article that we doe consider what manner of life this euerlasting life is namely such a life as for the excellencie and glory of it is incomprehensible yea so as the most sharpe sighted of the seruants of God could not comprehend and discerne the hidden excellency of it as we may read 1. Cor 13.9.10.11.12 2. Ep 12.1 2.3 We know in part saith Saint Paule c. And Colos 3 ver 4 Our life is hidden with Christ in God Likewise saith the Apostle Iohn 2. Ep 3.1 2. We know not what we shall be Reuel ch 21 cha 22. We may easily perceiue that the Spirit giueth vs to vnderstand that no creature no nor al creatures either vnder heaueÌ„ or in the visible heauens are sufficient fully to expresse the perfect glory of it For as there we read the light of the Sun is accouÌ„ted too base a light for it c. It is such an eternal life saith the same Apostle as hath immortall glory ioined with it 2. Tim 2.10 And 2. Cor 4.17 a most excellent glory of full weight yea aboue all weighing by any humane balance c. Neuertheles it is meete yea rather so much the more necessarie that wee should succour and relieue the weakenes of our vnderstanding by such similitudes whereby it pleaseth God to shadowe it forth vnto vs. And namely in that hee compareth it to the enioying of an inheritance Act 20.32 Rom 8.17 And Ephes 1 18 of a rich and glorious inheritance And Colos 1.12 of an inheritance of the Saints in light And 1 Pet 1 4 as was alledged before of an inheritance immortall and vndefiled that neuer fadeth c. In that also he compareth it to a iewell which is better worth The Promise then all whatsoeuer beside as Matt 13. in the parable of the precious pearle and also of the treasure hidden in the