that dayly we so grieue him by our sinne This I take to be Pauls comfort to vs where he saith But God setteth out his loue towardes vs Rom. 5.8.9.10 seeing that while we were yet sinners Christe died for vs much more then being now iustified by his bloode wee shall be saued from wrath through him For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his sonne much more being reconciled wee shall be saued by his life 2 The seconde argument is of the absolute sacrifice of Christ Gods sōne for vs. we cannot fall from naturall death into popish purgatorie which are graft into his death for the same hath fully satisfied the iustice of God for vs pacified his anger and obteined vs eternall redemption 1. Pet. 3.18 For Christ also hath once suffered saith Peter the iust for the vniust that he might not sende vs to purgatorie but bring vs to God And this Christ in his owne bodie bare our sins on the trée 1. Pet. 2.24 that being deliuered from sinne then of good consequent from the rewarde of sinne which is death wee shoulde liue in righteousnesse by whose stripes and not by popishe purgatories purging we are soundly healed The fathers wrath in this sacrifice is fully pacified for he hath giuen vs twice warrant thereof by his owne voyce saing 1. Pet. 2.24 Mat. 3.17 17.5 1. Pet. 1.17 This is my beloued sonne in whom I am well pleased It resteth therefore according to our heauenly fathers commaundement that we onely heare and beléeue him No feare of death or iudgement to hell much lesse to purgatorie can come then to vs which liue in the first resurrection by newnes of life For the Lorde our redemer hath payed the full price of our ransome and is therefore our Lutron and Lutrosis so as the vttermost farthing is tendred to Gods iustice in his death for mans sinne not by petition of sparing or bearing for day of further payment Matt. 20. but by his blood he hath paide himselfe once for all a full and absolute price for our redemption to his father Col. 2.14.15 and hath therfore triumphed on the crosse against principalities and powers and hath taken vs in his victorie from the handes of captiuitie translated vs into his grace putting out the whole hand writing that was against vs. Totum Chyrographum he hath taken away the whole obligation not parte of it in discharge of our debts that be graft in him And therfore there can not remayne a remnaunt of redemption for our selues in a popishe purgatorie For to suppose this were the greatest iniurie that coulde be to the blood of our full ransome Iesus Christ Last of all the promise of Gods mouth which can not lie whose wordes are alwayes yea and shall be alwayes true though heauen and earth runne together to perfourme them is a further assurance to the conscience of the godly man that hee shall passe from death presently vnto life For their purgatorie is say they but to punish those sinnes which at a mans death remaine vnpardoned and not purged before But to the penitent God saith thus At what time so euer a sinner doeth repent him of his sinne Ezech. 18. from the bottome of his heart at that time will I saith the Lord I shall the Pope then punish put all and not part of his wickednesse out of my remembraunce And our sauiour Christ Io. 6. hath promised vs which is the author of trueth He that beleeueth in me yea though he were deade yet shal he liue And he that beleueth in me hath euerlasting life Againe that which aboue all other is most plaine Hee that beleueth in mee Io. 5.24 shall not come into cōdemnation but hath passed from death to life Héere is plaine pardon and free immunitie from iudge and gaoler or corpus capias to bring to the barre for them that die in the true faith of the Lord for they are blessed and holy shal not sée death but shal be presently taken vp to life to be the priestes of God and Christ to raign with him for euermore But now to ende this my tedious labor O my deare brethrē both tyring you and much toyling my self gods spirite doth heere tell vs howe the faithful whose sinnes Psa 32.1.2 though they haue many are not laid to their charge are so farre from being plunged in a popishe purgatorie that farre contrary they are exalted into the height of heauen and called to the companie of those sanctified soules which daily follow the lambe and offer vp to God the holy sacrifice of praise and thankesgiuing for their redemption in the bloude of the Lambe saying Apoc. 7.12 Amen Praise and glorie and wisdome and thankes and honour and power and might be vnto God for euer more Amen These are they which came out of great tribulations saith the elder vnto Iohn and haue washed their robes white in the bloud of the Lambe Therfore are they in the presence of the throne of God and serue him day and night in his temple and hee that sitteth on the Throne will dwel among them This is not a paineful purgatorie for it followeth They shall hunger no more neither thirst any more neither shall the sunne light on them neither any heate therefore no hott purgatory fire for the Lamb which is in the midst of the Throne shall gouerne them and shall lead them vnto the liuely fountaines of waters and God shal wipe al teares away from their eyes Behold héere a most blessed felicitie god grant vs al that be héere to day if it be his blessed will to be partakers hereof And now somthing to say of this reuerend person whose christian corps doth lye yet before vs according to the truth of his demerit with man for whose sake we are héere assembled Somewhat I knew the man my selfe But I am further assured of him by such as doe not fawne but truly feare the Lord That he was according to gods prouidence born vnto Christ he hath béene trained vp in Christianity mercifully called from the pestilent sinke of popery and from his first féeling of Christ hath euer cōstantly in heart embraced true religion and very comfortably made confession therof in the whole course of his life so as his handworking hath borne good testimonie of his beléeuing heart and hath so vprightly receiued these great blessings cast vnto him of God that this offer is made by such as it doth most concerne If any man bee able iustly to charge him to haue at any time willingly done wrōg to him or by brybery in his office to haue enriched himselfe vppon due proofe hereof Zacheus tribute shall bée paide vnto him that is he shal be restored foure fold And though this man had his imperfectiōs with the sons of god yet he comfortably felt his beatitude in his sauiour Christ euen the forgiuenes of his sins in the mercy of God through him therefore as he liued a partaker of the first resurrection so hee ended this life without feare of the seconde death And as he saw with holy Symeon the Lord Christ to be onely his saluation So we may pronounce of him with good confidence that his soule doth rest in peace And no doubt it is taken vp of Angels vnto the mount Syon the citie of the liuing God the celestiall Ierusalem Heb. 12.22 and to the companie of innumerable Angels and to the congregation of the first born which are written in heauen and to god the iudge of all and to Iesus the mediator of the newe Testament and to the bloude of sprinkling that speaketh better things then that of Habell For it asketh vengeance more forcibly to the wicked and promiseth life and pardon most assuredly to the sonnes of GOD. Wherefore to thée our deare father our sauiour Christ and the holy ghost thrée persons distinct but one immortall god be all glorie wisedome thankes honor power and might for euer more Amen Laudes Deo per Christum seruatorem nostrum
the deserued fall of this you haue which is euermore enuironed with miserable feare and blindnes with feare to loose that they haue by sundrie casualties And so blinde as not able to beholde the miserie of that ende which hath none other heauen then this present earth But Oh come and beholde the state of these blessed that are not godly rich O yée sonnes of men and you shall bée enforced if you hunger to bée truely blessed to pray with that holy rich Dauid Psal 17.14 Deliuer my soule from the wicked with thy sworde from men O Lorde by thine hande from men of the worlde who haue their portion in this life whose bellyes thou fillest with thine hidde treasure their children haue ynough and leaue the rest of their their substance for their children But I will beholde thy face in righteousnesse and when I awake I shall bee satisfied with thine image That is When I shall arise from the sleepe of naturall death it shall bée full felicitie to me that thou in thy mercy O Lord hast made mee thy creature and liuely image formed by and after thée in holynesse and righteousnesse and to enioy the fulnesse of thy face Colloss 2. which is true blessednesse The tormentes of Hell in Diues might sufficiently teach vs howe false is the felicitie of earthly beautie brauerie dignitie riches and greatest glorie If Christ bée not in them your ende shall bée wéeping and woe Iames. Hée was braue but now is the Godly Lazar beautifull he was of great possessions but Lazarus hath the kingdome Luke 16. He gaped after gold gay clothes delicate fare but the despised man of God is truely rich decked with glory delicately fed with the countenance of the Lord. Diues supposed rich is buried in hel And by that he greatly offended in that he is greatly punished For his tongue is vehemently tormented in the flame he cryeth for fauour but cannot obtain for hée had no part of the first resurrectiō which is true beatitude and therefore must he néedes dwell for euer in the seconde death He would haue his brethrē warned that they dreame not of false felicitie but the very way to blessednesses is there taught him and also vs not to bée learned from the deade Luke 16. but of the liuing Lawe of the Lord. They haue Moses the Prophets let them heare them Esai 8.19.20 Be afraide ye gallants of the earth you delicate Nymphes of these deayes which term it now most delicate to you iudge your selues that ye be not iudged of the Lorde 1. Cor. 11. Burie not your mindes in fained felicitie but séeke you after true happinesse If riches honours Castels Lordships Lands Reuenues wordly goods greatly increase set not your hearts vpon them Be not locked into the Coffer of thy gold with Diues but haue a godly liberal hart with Abrahā Rather sit at the doore of thy house ready to benefite thy countrie thē hauing many to runne from al thy homestedes to lye aloofe to féede thy selfe Haue a Christian eye to the whéele of false felicitie For the more swéete shée séemeth the sharper is her loose whom she most fauoureth him maketh she most fottish Truely the prosperitie of fooles destroyeth them Prou. 1.32 But if by grace from God in thy part of the first resurrection thou withstandest her pleasures and vngodly desires Sizach thou crownest then thy life with felicitie in him Which God grant vs for his holy Christs sake And thus much of false flattering felicite But that we may be partakers of this blessednes approued to vs here by the spirite of god let vs lend our hearts to heare Truely this felicitie is first by the Lorde diffused to vs in this life but possessed by vs more amplie in heauen at the houre of death yet neuer fully obtained till the time héere mentioned for the iust namely at the second resurrection When we shal be fréed from all woe and shal be filled with all fulnesse of ioy and bée the priestes of God and Christ to raigne with him a thousand yeare that is for euer and euer Blessed is he that hath part in the first resurrection for on such c. This text doth first then yeld a resolute answere to this demand who are they which be truly blessed Truely saith our text euen whatsoeuer he that hath part in the first resurrection whether he be king or caytiffe prince or potentate preacher or people rich or poore he or she yong or old one or other Come vp hither ye sōns of mē raise vp you your heauy harts for the catholik curse of Adams loines behold an vniuersal beatitude in our common Christ This absolute happinesse is not shut vp to a few but as many as can be partakers of the first resurrectiō so many I say shal be blessed frō the second death which is the infernall lake of fire brimstone But for your better helpe to the comfort of this place note héere with mée two thinges The first what is this first resurrection The seconde how we may assure our selues to be partakers therof Now we must cōsider our text doth insinuate vnto vs a duple resurrectiō namely a corporal a spiritual 2. Cor. 5.2.20 The corporal resurrection is the supplie of this article I beleeue the resurrection of the deade and is common to all for all fleshe shall die and ryse agayne to iudgemente But the spirituall resurrection is particular to the sōnes of God alone is called the first because in this life his holy spirit doeth kill the members of sinne to death in vs rayseth vs vp togither in Christ Ephesi 2. to a newnesse of life But so necessarie a doctrine it is to bée delyuered vs of either resurrection that I may not omit but speake of them both And as many scriptures doe testifie the first so it is my purpose to charge your memories but with one but that so sufficiēt as may alone suffice our purpose at this time and your vnderstanding of Gods good pleasure in that iudgement viz. Apoc. 20.11.12.13.14.15 And I sawe a great white throne and one that sate on it from whose face fled away both the earth and heauen and their place was no more founde And I sawe the dead both great and small stand before God the books were opened and an other booke was opened which is the booke of life and the deade were iudged of those things which were written in the books according to their workes And the sea gaue vp her dead which were in her and death and hell deliuered vp the deade which were in them and they were iudged euery man according to their workes And death and hel were cast into the lake of fire this is the seconde death And whosoeuer was not founde in the booke of life written was cast into the lake of fire This holy scripture beloued doth most playnely
what this resurrection is the Apostle doth tel vs namely newnesse of life saying Rom. 6.4 We are buried then with Christ by baptisme into his death that like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorie of the father so wee should walke in newnesse of life This is then the first resurrection namely newnes of life There must be life beloued as well in the spirite as in the bodie Manie men séeme to liue and to doe the works of life but not in the spirite but in the body to serue their turn to answere the law to obserue the time but all this while the spirite liueth not Many a papist to day will come to Church in bodie but he bringeth a deade soule with him for Christian Religion hath no roume in his heart But if thou wilt haue thy part Papist or Protestant in the first resurrection thou must beginne to liue in thy spirite that thy spirite may enforce thy bodie to loue liue and feare thy God According to this sentence of Paule Ephes 4.22 Cast off the olde man which is corrupt through the deceiueable lustes and bee yee renewed in the spirite of your minde and put on the newe man which after God is created in righteousnesse and true holynesse And at one worde to speake it herein consisteth the first resurrection To cast away the works of darkenesse and to put on Christ the armour of light But as no man raised from a filthy puddle will willingly beare with him the myerie spots of that dirtie soile but will rather cast away the defyled garments that he might appeare clensed Hos 3. Euen so beloued wee must not part stakes with God and sinne but we must say to sinne get thée hence by a spirituall hatred vnto her so increase in it that we must as the Apostle Iude saith euen hate the very garment that is polluted by the fleshe vers 23. So must we hauing receiued such grace liue in spirite and bodie as the sonnes of lighte translated from the power of death to the kingdome of Christ in all peace Colos 1.13 Godlynes Tit. 2.11 sobrietie and honestie Thus shal we liue raigne with Christ a thousand yeare viz. for euer Now call your spirites to your senses and sée howe yée sauour this trueth beloued in Christ Rowse vppe your drowsie heartes and with the perspicuitie of a good conscience sifte and search your selues euerie one howe you haue profited by this doctrine and whether you liue or die Be not deceiued God is not mocked whatsoeuer a man soweth that shall hée reape For if yée sowe still to the flesh your former corruptions you shal reape the seconde death But if nowe you can take hold of Christs doctrin by his spirit from his truth sowe to your spirits the séeds of the word of Faith of righteousnes of peace and godlynesse Gal. 6.7 you are partakers then of the first resurrection and shal reape hereof life euerlasting And in this examination two sorts of men are meruellously conuinced The first neither féeling death or life in god runneth headlong to his luste in infidelitie and gréedinesse to sinne as though that onely were his chiefe beatitude And these bée the Atheistes of our dayes whose consciences are seared vppe with an hotte yron so as no worde can pearce into their heartes or sappe of Gods spirite haue course in their members but are past all féeling euen at the point of damnation The seconde sort are of such as hauing some sparkes of a former fire and a little breathing force of an elder strength but nowe decaying doe yet séeme to liue when rather it may be feared that they are almost deade And these are notably shadowed vnto vs by the Church of Sardi in the Apocalips Apoca. 3.1 And writte vnto the Angel .i. the Minister of the Church which is at Sardi These things saith he that hath the seuen spirites of God in his hand and the 7. stars I knowe thy workes for thou hast a name that thou liuest but thou art deade Oh beloued marke well this Church of Sardi or Lidia She is not an idolatrous Church but professing God and godlinesse She hath the forme of Gods gouernement his worde his ministers is called his Church She séemeth for her outward shew to be most Christian and holy but in déede and troth shee is conuicted of death And that not because shée hath no part of godly life in her but because she hath fallen frō her first loue life and strength in him that holdeth the manifold graces called 7 spirits in his hande to dispose at his good pleasure the sufficient number of his preachers named starres to shine into the darkenesse of mans nature with the brightnesse of his word Finally Sardi is conuinced that she is imperfect in her workes before God that is she was but an hypocriticall Church rested in the externall ceremonies and rites but sought not the Lorde in trueth and sinceritie And héere note beloued that whatsoeuer Church or people which hath not in her soule the rooted faith of Christ graft by his spirite in that inner Man in strength wherof the force and power of Christs spirite floweth thence into an open practise of holinesse and godlinesse righteousnesse and honestie That same Church people or seuered person is as deade before the Lord. But yet in this Church of Lidia there were a fewe names as the Lord noteth in the 4. ver of the 3. chap. which had not defiled their garments that is had not stained the profession of Christ which Christ they by baptism had put on is the wedding garment adorning our beauty in him couereth our infirmities iniquities from the censure of gods iustice Very comfortable is this to the Godly but to the wicked most terrible The Lordes eyes beholde the hearts and actes of men and doth daily discerne the number of the Godly but kéepeth recordes of the wickeds practizes against the day of wrath O Englande Englande Oh thou Church of Sardi if thou be looked into with a spirituall eye thou shalt be founde néere vnto death onely a fewe names or persons are kept in thée for a reserued séed to the Lorde In outwarde shew what Church more holy Thy Princes are protestants Thy angelical starres thy bishops and preachers are learned teachers Thy gouernement is godly thy profession is holy But O Englande if thou be sounded to the heart thou shalt be founde I feare me verie sicke and néere vnto death Many maladies haue mette with thée no sickenesse but hath taken holde of thée and sore weakened thy strength But last of al hypocrisie securitie sléepe in thy bosome Thou stainest thy bright vesture of holy profession with the filthy spottes of carnall desires Thy religion is a cloake to all thy iniquities But as a spot is soone espied and séemeth most foule in a scarlet robe So the brighter thy profession is the sooner
you thinke indéed ther is a God that knoweth this A Scribe that recordeth it A iudge that will reuenge it and a day that shall reueale it by the bookes of your heauie iudgement And dare you continue your delight in lying whoring in filthy iestinges that are not comely in such the workes of darkenesse which rather you ought to reprooue in others then to fauour or practise them your selues But these euils dwel not altogether in beggers but you you euē you I say whō the Lord hath blessed with landes and reuenewes in great aboundance which for your birthes are called gentlemen for your chiualrie knights but for your follie flattered as fooles to winne of you preferment euen of you I said there are that dare dispise the spirit of trueth with the false spirit of lying ribauldry and filthy whoredome Your seruantes perceyuing your foolishnesse are contented to sell themselues to hel to gaine some earthly preferment at your handes For séeing your diuellish disposition they frame their practise to your pleasurs but you shal be iudged of those thinges most seuerely Oh you seruing-men absteyne from pleasing your maisters with this egregious lewdenes of lying Wotte you what you doe and whose ye are Io. 8. you do make your soules the slaues of sathan and you are herein the children of the deuill your father which is a lyer from the beginning Cast of these works of darkenesse haue no fellowship with them but rather reprooue them and those that vse them yea though they be your great masters For you are not called to serue men but God And you shall then be founde best profitable to your maisters when you shall take sinne from their bodies and exhort vertue to their soules And be it knowne to you you knightes héere present and the rest that that noble Naaman had not béene clensed from his leprosie had he not humbled his soule to the admonition of his godly seruing-men 2. Kings 5.13 2. King 5.13 The Lorde GOD worke our conuersion in tyme that wee may dye to sinne and haue parte in the firste resurrection so shall we bee sure not to taste of the seconde death because our names are founde written in the booke of life Whereof nowe wee are to speake And it is notable that it is saide euery man was iudged accordinge to his workes that hée had done in his life time not what others haue done for him after Yea aswell the godly as the reprobate are in thēselues vnder the censure of the seconde booke that is condemnable to the seconde death But now there is an other cause why the godly are saued namely that their names are written in the booke of life Ephe. 1.2 This booke of life is not of this life corporall but spiritual and hath his beginning in these our dayes but is perfited in the last resurrection and is called the most sure and swéete election and predestination of god which doth seale and sanctifie to himselfe those that be his whom he hath chosen to be partakers of the first resurrection before the beginning of dayes Ephe. 1.2 and therefore they cannot perishe in the ende of time Of this booke speaketh Paule The Lord knoweth who bee his And though sparingly I would speak in singular reuerence of this hiddē mystery 2. Tim. 2.19 to many in the world comfortable only to the childrē of life when their eyes be opened to reade this booke yet in humblenesse of heart I say thus much of it This booke of life is the most certaine sure firme and eternall foreknowledge in the most holy minde of God Zanch. To. 2 lib. 3. cap. 3. 712. by the which hee euer hath and doeth in his Christ and for him alone appoint and choose vs to be his children adopted to grace and heires of eternall life approueth them for his and taketh peculiar and perpetuall care on them I knowe my sheepe saith Christ I knowe whome I haue choosen c. And those whome the Lorde writeth in this booke those only shall haue saith and life And whosoeuer is not written in this booke without doubt he shall be cast into the seconde death But howe shal we know that wee are written in this booke Surely euerie man is to séeke the knowledge héereof To some it is giuen at morne to other at noone and to some onely at night euen gasping at breath The ordinarie way to this knowledge is elegātly set downe by Paul to the Romans where the graces of God are so linked in one so easie to be perceiued that euerie man may haue an insight of this golden cheine that feareth God Rom. 8.28 We know that all thinges saith he worke together for the best to to them that loue God euē to them that are called of his purpose For those whō he knew before he also predestinate to be made like to the image of his sonne that he might be the first borne amonge manie brethren Moreouer Whome he predestinate them also hee called and whome hee called them also hee iustified and whome he iustified them also he glorified Héere beloued the booke is gods purpose to choose and our writing in it is that we are elected to liue in Christ before all times a life conformable to the following of Christ to bée holy and blameles sober godly religious iust peaceable and blessed in this present worlde And not to be worldly bent and to blaspheme with rebellious spirites saying what should I feare to to robbe to kil to spoile to whore it and brace it and to followe my lust For if I be elected I shal be saued if I be not elected I shal be dāned But beloued Oh hateful spirit against Gods holy spirit of our electiō Do you draw hence an other nature in the grace of this book namely learne to sée how those that are elected those shal be called to féele their election And they shal be iustified from their former corruptions sanctified from after sinnes and glorified to God But as we haue said those that be not found writtē in this booke those shal be iudged by the other bookes of iudgement and that according to their workes This doctrine is héere deliuered vs to note Iohn speaketh of the generall iudgement executed long after the natural death and he speaketh generally of all when as no doubte great heapes of infinite thousands haue had the works of Popes and Cardinals popish priests and sacrilegious Masses trentals doles and chauntrie fées moonkish builde and frierish helpes for them All whose works of darknesse notwithstanding euery man shall rise vnchaunged from his former state For euen so as he dyed such shall he arise and shall haue iudgement after his owne works and not according to the merite of other mens labours for him after his death Thus saith Gods spirite which cannot lye Away therefore with your prayer for the deade your almes and dole to the poore at the place and day
of Funerals And euen this day I exhort in the Lord whom it doth most concerne that as I knowe and doe affirme your hate to that pestilent péece of popery and your sinceritie in Christ so yée faithfully shewe it at this instant Féede these poore assembled but foster not that popishe opinion to pray for the soule departed Forget not the Lord at this present who hath not forgottē to bring you to great things Abstain saith the Apostle not only from euill but euen also from the shadow shew of euill If it might be take some other day for them giue them with warning that you meane no procuring of prayer for the dead For I know that you are assured that euery man shall appeare and aunswere for his owne factes as well this reuerend corps going to his graue as all you and wee here assembled in cause of him We must all appeare saith Paule before the iudgement seate of Christ 2. Cor. 5.10 that euery man may receiue the things that are done in his bodie according to that he hath done whether it be good or euill The Lord in mercy blesse vs with his grace that liuing in him we may die in the Lorde Christ and so rest in peace till our returne to this bodily resurrection when we shall resigne to our soules our newe bodies though burned to ashes eaten with vermine in Sea or by lande For death lande and sea shall giue vppe not newe creatures but her receiued deade to be revnited to this resurrection And so with holy Iob we shall all sée our redéemer not with other but with these eyes that nowe we haue and with the selfe same bodies which nowe we beare shall wée all both small and great stande before the almightie Christ the iudge of quick and deade To whom be glory for euer And nowe time requireth to speake of the first resurrectiō which earst we called spirituall And of this resurrection Paul speaketh thus Ephe. 2.4 And when we were deade by sinnes God in his rich mercie through his great loue wherewith hee loued vs hath quickened vs together in Christ by whose grace wee are saued And hath raised vs vp together made vs sit together in the heauenly places in Christ Iesus Rom. 6.4 And againe to the Romans thus We are buried then with Christ by baptisme into his death that like as Christ was raised of God the father so wee shoulde walke in newnesse of life And nowe of these places we are to obserue First that there is a death that goeth before this resurrection Then that by an other power beyonde our selues we are reuiued and raised from that death And thirdly what this life is where vnto we are raised To the first this death is spiritual and is none other but sinne as here is saide and when we were deade in sinne And rightly is sin called death for it killeth all the vitall partes of the soule and maketh it not onely vnapt but vnable to serue the liuing God It depriueth vs of the grace of God It separateth Christ Rom. 6. which is our life from vs it bringeth sathan to possesse our soules and haleth vs to the second death which is the infernal lake This is the nature of euery sinne and therefore they are rightly saide to bée deade which be possessed of it as wholly cut off from God estraunged from his life 1. Tim. 5.6 and deade to godlynesse So are the lashing widowes called deade in spirite though they liue by nature which giue themselues to carnalitie fleshly lusts And of such men also spake Christ the Lorde saying Let the deade burie their dead Matth. 8.22 Nowe beloued drawe hence this doctrine We are by course of naturall life sinners but by our selfe delights we are become deade in trespasses but he that is dead is so frée from life that he hath no part of whatsoeuer is done vnder the sunne as the preacher saith Eccle. 9.4.5.6 So now that I speake to you that you conceiue and we all féele the power of the voyce it is by that wee liue but this Corpes héere present is so frée from all this that he neither heareth or conceiueth féeleth or partaketh whatsoeuer by his occasion héere is done for hée is deade and his life is not in him Euen so beloued the deade in sinne are as frée from righteousnes and the true féeling thereof as this sanctified corpes is cut from our present action Moreouer this corps can neither goe nor stir hinder or let those that list to carry conuey him whether they woulde Neither can the deade in sinne withstande the guide of his deadly soule the killing diuell the prince of hell but is ledde and drawen euen whether and to what him lust to whoredomes murthers lying blasphemie and what not Ion. 8.34 Rom. 6.20 2. Pet. 2.19 For of whom so euer a man is ouercome his seruant he is whether of sinne vnto death or of grace vnto life Last of all it is not in the power of any deade man to arise againe till his life be returned to him No more is it in the power of man once deade in sin to rise againe from it vntill his life which is Christ returne to reuiue him Wherefore the Apostle saith hee hath quickned vs euen God the father by the spirite of his Christ hath raised vs vp with Christ Where is then thy frée will and power to kéepe the wayes of God when thou hast eares but fatted eares that cannot heare a heart but blinded Matt. 13.14 that cānot perceiue the good wil of god a soule but deade and estraunged from the life of God Ephe. 41.8 And for this cause God is saide to raise vs from the deade that Christ may giue vs light that by his mighty operation through faith in him It is his mighty operation Colos 2.12 not mans weaknesse to raise vs from sinne For sathan is stronger then we 2. Tim. 2.26 holdeth vs once dead euē at his wil as Paul saith so as it is not possible for vs to arise from his bōos til our life Christ which is the strōger Luk. 11.29 Math. 12.29 Mark 3.22 enter combat with him bind him take vs his spoile away from him The workeman then to raise vs in this first resurrection is not man but God And he vseth heereto as his finger to forme vs anewe his worde and his spirite both from him selfe that he might haue the whole glorie of our life Embrace then this holy meanes come to the word there is his spirit If thou be his he will drawe thée to it lighten thée by them raise thée from this spirituall death as the Apostle hath saide Rom. 3.11 If the spirite of him that raised vp Iesus from the deade dwell in you hee that raised vp Christ from the deade shall also quicken your mortall bodies because that his spirite dwelleth in you Nowe
thy sinnes are discouered and thine imperfections more notorious But by two especiall notes a sicke man is knowne to be neare his death First his pulses labour weakely his speech draweth farrely and his strength is fled away Secondly when he is sodeinely bereft of his vitall spirits perfect senses so as he is not féeling the parts of his dying bodie he is déemed neare vnto his death Alas looke into the bodie of England for the soundenes of her life Christ in her beholde her pulses beate faintly her speach fetcheth farly her strength is meruellously decayed Is her zeale to religion as it was in the beginning of her maiesties raigne Is it continually vigent in all the parts of the bodie doth euery knée bowe to Christ the Lorde in her doth euery tongue confesse Iesus to be the Lorde to the glorie of God the father Nay alas this little life left is drawne néere to the heart and the heart is verie sicke A fewe names a fewe in respecte of so great a number What meaneth it that so many magistrates are molested with carcke against conspiracies and domesticall furies That such and so great vices are dayly spread and breake out So sundrie persons forced with papists filthy familyes and popish seminaries Such friendshippe to Gods enimies of some that rather should help to spewe them out of the bodie Such prouision for warre such feare of forraine foes and so small trust in manie home dwellers vndoubtedly this is the very cause that Englande is very sicke fainting falling as by degrées from her former strength in Christ Religion is thought to bee strong ynough of it selfe for aide it can obtaine little except about the heart Godly conuersation is fledde out of the countrie God graunt him godly constant entertainment in her graces Court Charity is become key cold for no man hath leasure to loue beyonde himselfe Hate of iniquitie is banished the lande and the true loue of God is hardly to be founde in the bodie of England Euen now is performed againe the prophet Hosias speach There is no truth nor mercy Hose 4 2.2.3 nor knowledge of God in the land by swearing lying and killing and stealing and whoring they breake out and bloode toucheth blood therefore shall the lande mourne c. And are we not senselesse of our weake estate Do not our spirituall preachers crie vnto vs Esa 1.53.6 Rom. 2.2 There is no health frō top to the toe All haue gone astray euery mā after his picked chosē way the long suffering of God hath béene to drawe you to repentance but you haue abused his great pacience are like to the raging seas for in the glory of your presumptiōs you haue cast vp to the eyes of the Lord the filthie fome of your bloodgiltinesse But nowe repent in time ere the day of his decrée come foorth Zoph 2.1 ◠Gather your selues together O nation not worthy to bée beloued least you be blowen away like chaffe in that day Séeke the Lorde ye méeke of the earth you that haue wrought his iudgementes Séeke righteousnesse séeke lowlines if so be the ye may bée hidden in the day of the lords wrath But beloued in GOD Esa 26.20 howe féele we our selues now are we sicke or whole To this me thinke some do say No sir loquere no bis placentia speake more pleasant things to vs. Crie peace peace Iere. 20.1 euē til the day of war Cast Ieremie into prisō saith Pashur his partakers for hee speaketh against this citie But those names onely that are about the hart and haue not so steined their cloths they say he is not worthie to die for he hath spokē to vs in the name of the lord our god Ier. 26.16 But of the residue what shal we say truly we may rightly say as God him selfe spake to his prophet Ezechiel in the time saying Also thou son of man the childrē of thy people the talke of thee by the wals as they sit at their banquets Ezec. 33.30 thou art their sauce to their delicates in the dores of their houses whē they sit in the streets to recreate thēselues speake one to an other saying in derisiō of my law come I pray you heare what is the word that cōmeth from the Lorde for they come vnto thee as the people vseth to come and my people sit before thee and heare thy words but they wil not do thē for with their mouths they make mowes iestes their hart goeth after their couetousnes And lo Thou art to them as a iesting song of one that hath a pleasant voice can sing well for they heare thy words but they do thē not And when this cōmeth to pas for lo it wil come namely the ripenes of this sin the performance of my prophets threts frō me Then shal they knowe Verse 28. that not a iesting singer but a prophet hath ben amongst them When Lord euen whē I wil lay the land desolate saith the Lord wast and the pompe of her strength shal cease c. O lord in thy great mercy looke down vpon our English Israel What is he the séeth this huge heape of people here this day being a straunger to the state of this country but presently might cōceiue much life of god to be in thē Surely it is a great people yea a very great auditorie I haue not seene the like in the countrie the Lord blesse you al with the first resurrectiō according to his blessed will But you of the greater sort take you care that ye come not to heare what the lord saith only for ciuility or neiborly courtesie in respect of these funerals or in nisenes to heare a voice that might delight you but what cause soeuer brought you now that you are come be attentiue to the lord that you may be taught of god As for the gretest number it is too apparant wil be proued anonne that as our prophet saith they folow their couetousnes They are come in hope to haue a dole to day Against whose gréedie desire eftsones I pray you to whom it belongeth that regarde may be had hereof least this dayes exercise may be abused by the wicked to father their popish prayer for the deade vppon your charitable deuotion to the poore But beloued let the bell call you to another Church or at an other time be the preacher liked neuer so well we shall not haue the thirde part of this audience Nay if we might haue but the fourth part and that on the Sabboth onely it were in these partes a vertuous people And after our hearing howe do we digest the worde For the moste part this is al At dinner and after we talke of the man but féede not of the matter We either yéelde him his due commendation or our dislike But euen as minstrels song once hearde is streight forgotten So very fewe with Marie laieth
vp in his heart those things which the Prophet spake Take héede that you spurne not at your Phisicions for then your health is at an ende Did Esay cry in his time Esa 53.1 lord who beléeueth our sayings And may not we cry nowe Lord who doeth credite our report We are the ofscowring of the people the laughing-stockes of the worlde wée are counted contentious seditious slaunderous railers lyers troublers of the state But as for this people though thou O Lord speake in vs vnto them yet will they not bend their eares to heare thy voyce in vs. Though the earth be wearie of her sinnefull burthen as surcharged with the heauinesse of sinne doth vniuersally totter as a dronken man Aprill 8. 1580. at our iniquities and thy heauie iudgements yea though the waters here below the heauens planets farre aboue though blasing gleames and burning lampes haue summoned vs and vgly shapes in monstrous birth haue and yet doe cite vs to the preuentiō of thy heauie wrath in true repentaunce Iere. 8.6 yet no man sayth to himselfe and what haue I done But euerie man goeth to the corruption of his owne heart and fetcheth thence the labor of his life in Hypocrisie Popery Drunkennesse Whoredome couetousnesse pride ambition atheisme such like And all this commeth hereof that being almost all dead we féele not that we are once touched with sickenes We goe on in our wickednes and séeke credit against our reprouers scorne at Gods iudgementes and when most séeming is of imminent daunger wee assure our selues of great securitie Oh people of this waywarde nation and you here present let vs his ministers bee the Lordes cockes to rowse you out of this deadely sléepe hauing first with Peters teares examined well our selues Let vs bee the trumpettes of the Lord to warne you of the greate and mightie battel of the God of hostes against vs. And nowe accept you this labour of me the watchman of the Lorde and hearken with comfort to this my crye Arise you that sleepe in your sinnes and shamefull securitie O Christians by name Arise from the first death of sinne by the operation of Gods holy spirite in you and walke in newnesse of life by the light of the glorious gospell of GOD giuen you in Christ so shal not the second death haue any power of you because you haue taken parte in the first resurrection And now I perceiue this first parte hath taken my whole time allotted me so as I can not speake of the seconde which is so depending of the first that well they can not bee disioyned But in asmuch as your ciuill solemnities aske more tyme then possibly the forenoone woulde afforde vs I will deferre my seconde part till some other time except I receiue your pleasures farther to procéede Well then knowing now your godly desires by the harald at armes that I shoulde procéede Let vs read our second part and it is thus For on such the second death hath no power Text ver 6. but they shal be the priestes of god and Christ and shall raigne with him a thousand yeare In this part dearely beloued the Euangelist doth by a most elegant phrase describe the state conditiō of the faithfull affirming thē so farre of to be once touched after the punct of natural death with the paines of hell or false fained popish purgatorie that contrarily they presently are in blisse with God singing with the spirits of the iust the due prayses of the Lord saying for on such c. But to the further openyng of this excellent part let vs obserue these thrée thinges First what is to be vnderstoode by this second death Secondly of what prerogatiue power the same is And last of al for a final conclusion what wher is the ful felicitie of the iust which haue their part in the first resurrection The second death to be shorte is that which followeth the firste as a merite of his deserte But death is said to be twofold in the holy scriptures For as there is a death of the body so is there likewise a death of the soule But of death of the bodie we haue saide before And of the naturall death Gods holy booke our common experience and the dead body of this departed Christian before vs beareth perfecte testimony Of which the Apostle Paule sayth It is decreed that man shall once die and then cometh his iudgement And our Apostle in this booke Heb. 9.27 Apoc. 14.13 Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord or for the Lords cause for they rest from their labours so saith the spirite and their works follow them Their owne workes followe them not the workes of other for them And be it knowne vnto you that the first death of the soule which is sinne and iniquitie is the verie cause procuring Gods iudgement to strike the bodie with naturall death and is héere called the first death of the body For the which the soule that dieth in sinne shall abide much paine torment in hel when yet the body therof sléepeth quiet in the graue expecting his woeful resurrection And now of the second death which Christ Iesus Matt. 10.28 and our Apostle Iohn calleth hell the lake of fire Feare not thē saith Christ which kill the body but are not able to kill the soule but rather feare him which is able to destroy both body soule into hel Here is the death of the body the first death the death of the soule in hell the second Of the same seconde death speaketh S. Iohn in this receiued text Goe too you worldlings Iam. 5.1 Rom. 2.5 that treasure vp wrath to your selues for the last day tribulation and anguish death and hell shall be your portion Looke to this you scorners that put far off the last day here is to you endles woe You haue made a couenant with death but death it selfe and hell viz. the damned soules in them shall henceforth be cast both bodie and soule into the burning lake of fire brimston which is the second death For be the day neuer so long at the last cōmeth Euening Oh beloued that wéepe nowe then shall you laugh and reioyce if so that you kisse embrace the Sonne of God fal before his presence condēning your selues for sin killing sinn in you by the power of his spirit you shal thē sée the proud antechristiā Pharaoh al his popish Egyptiās cast into the sea gulfe of vnquenchable fire when your selues by your mighty Moses captain christ shall be ledd into the heauenly lande of promise there to raigne with him for euer euer Many men mooue much dispute about the site and place of hell this firie lake But I say onely this of it It is a forbidden curiositie engendring strife deuoide of profit to question where and in what place it is But it is a commanded diuinitie to séeke the
liuing God with reuerent feare by his mercie and Christes merite to be raunsomed from the paines and power thereof Of whose power we thus say The second death which is hell hath a double power or prerogatiue The first is a prerogatiue to receiue such persons as of right doe belong vnto her The seconde is perpetually to kéepe their soules in that lake till the day of iudgement and can neither be coniured or commaunded to deliuer any one of them or can they come out of her by any authoritie or power of Pope or whole papasie but after that day shall possesse both the bodies souls of the malignant Church to her euerlasting tormentes Nowe what soules and persons doe belong to her our Apostle doth tel vs in the 21. of this book saying But the fearefull and vnbeleeuing and the abhominable Apoc. 21.8 murtherers whormongers idolaters sorcerers al liers shal haue their part in the lake which burneth with fire brimstō which is the second death Thrée sortes of persons Gods spirit doeth assure vs to be vnder the power of the second death That is the obstinate Infidell the fearefull Papiste and the abhominable couetous of the worlde as drunkards whoremongers murtherers couetous liars and such like Delicate be your delightes yee gallants of these dayes but wisely call them to account before the mourners followe the sinfull corps to the graue Eccle. 12.1 c. For if the Lord which is the searcher of the heart find your delights with death to end in infidelitie in fearefull poperie or in any these carnal abhominations thē deceiue not your selues for the prerogatiue of the second death may not be taken frō her God is a iust God Rom. 2.6 and in his iustice will iudge euery mā according to the verie nature of his worke Note here also that ciuill honestie without Christs diuinitie cannot kéepe the honest Infidel and vnbeléeuer from the second death For we possesse the heauens by inheritance onely and we are none otherwise made heires thē by this prerogatiue that we are made the sōns of God Io. 1. And wee are none otherwise made the sōnes of God but by our faith in Iesus Christ Nor can this faith bée else obtained but by the spirite of God Or doth this spirit otherwise ordinarily worke it in vs then by the preaching of the word of God But the infidell reiecteth the worde 1. Thes 4.5 and therefore Gods spirite likewise our Christ and in him our heauenly father and so finally this heauenly inheritance And as for our honest life and good workes they serue but so seale vp the heartes of the faithfull to thassuraunce of their election and to procure others to prayse the Lorde being benefited by them in vs. But the onely hand that apprehendeth our inheritance in Christ is our firme fixed faith in him beléeuing by his word and spirit in the full consent of our hartes that he is the same which the most mercifull father hath giuen him to be to vs That is our wisedome our iustification our holynesse our frée and most absolute redemption 1. Cor. 1.10 and so in the bottome of our heartes doe by faith embrace him 2 The second sort subiect vnto hel are the feareful papistes who shal neuer so dying escape the second death And if you will marke with me this Epitheton fearefull therewith measure in truth the popish profession you must of méere necessitie grant me that no papist dying in his popery can be else where placed but in the second death And to your better vnderstāding hereof you must distinguish betwixt feare feare for there is a feare cōmended cōmanded to vs in the holy scriptures Psa 111.10 as The feare of the Lord is the beginning of wisedom cōmanded Psa 2.10.11 Serue the Lorde in feare reioyce to him with trēbling Again Feare god honor the king 1. Pet. 2.17 loue brotherly fellowship But this is that feare which Gods spirite planteth in his children to serue him in his true worship is euer ioyned with assured knowledge affiance in God And in the knot of christiā mariage Psal 58.9 Psal 112. Psal 118. this sacred feare is rightly shadowed for the wife feareth to offend her husband but it is for reuerēce loue to him neuer wtout affiance of his fauor because she knoweth him to be her maried husband So likewise the godly child doth feare to displease his father not bicause he doubteth of his loue but for that he would not gréeue the spirit of his life whō he feleth most assuredly in natural knot fast tyed to him And though his father lend him a frowning face he knows that those his lookes proceed of fatherly loue to his correctiō wherof persuaded so he feareth so he trusteth so he naturally loueth obeieth him And this knowledge loue driueth away filthy feare which gendreth painefulnes But the feare that Iohn speaketh of is flat contrarie to this It is begotten by distrust in god it is borne of ignorance it liueth to dispaire dieth in gret painfulnes what other is the whole profession of popery but méere timiditie They euer distrust god of his promise during their life therefore they die in feare of his fauor at the houre of death If he say That soule that sinneth shal die they beleue him not but walke frō sin to sin committing more trust to a Popes bul thē credit to the immortal word of god If the Lord say and sweare also Verely verely Io. 5.24 he that heareth my words beleueth in him that sent me hath euerlasting life shall not come into condēnatiō but hath passed frō death to life yet the papist is afraid to rest vpō this promise for he doth not absolutely beléeue it but is in feare notwtstanding that after death his soule shal go to condemnation if not to hell yet at the least to purgatory Though the spirit of God say There is no condēnation to thē that are graft in Christ Iesu whose life is not after the flesh but after the spirit yet the papist wil not beleeue that he ought to be assured of this Christian rocke to rest vpon but casteth himselfe into the raging sea of wauering distrust Which feareful persuasion hath béene the very building of al Abbies priories popish paultries from many yeres past vs and doth bréede great blasphemie to the glorie of God For first it taketh away the foundation of our faith in the merite of Christ which is the God almighty is become our father in him and that he is nowe well pleased with vs and as a father not onely doeth pardon our sins but so tenderly loueth vs that our necessities whatsoeuer he carefully helpeth It taketh away also this holy boldnes in loue which his spirit doeth assure vs of and Christ doeth teach vs to cry vnto him Math. 6. O thou that art our father
alter the state condition of the persons once dead but such workes as they themselues caried with them such shall they rise withall vnto their iudgement whether lampes of louing faith to the praise of God or cressettes of corruption to their owne condemnation And thus I will conclude with the spirite of Gods sentence our best moderator and so passe to the last braunch Io. 5.28 Maruell not at this sayth Christe for the houre shall come in the which all that are in the graues shall heare his voice And they shall come forth that haue done good vnto the resurrectiō of life But they that haue done euill vnto the resurrection of condemnation The same assurance of doctrine Gods spirite by Paul doeth deliuer vs saying 2. Cor. 5.10 We must all appeare before the iudgement seate of Christe that euery man may receiue the thinges which are done in his bodye according to that hee hath done whether it bee good or euill Note well this doctrine and amend your liues rest not vppon the doubtfull doctrine of poperie O dearely bought children of GOD but fixe your faith in this absolute doctrine of sound warrant which is yea and amen Then here you may perceiue that after death there is no temporarie prison as Popish purgatorie but a perpetuall lake of fire which is the second death And also that after this life there is no remissiō of sins to any that hath not obteined that grace during this time of repentance But euen in what state the soule departeth from the bodie at the comming of death euen vnchanged hee retyreth to the same bodie at the last for the déeds done by himselfe and not for the workes of any other done after him And to receiue his iudgement whether through faith in her fruites vnto life in Christ or because of sinne and Sathan to eternall death This is the sound and sure doctrine of our good God But as for the gainefull and paineful preaching of poperie and her purgatorie as a most venemous Serpente flée from it that you may escape the seconde death and be partakers of the felicitie of the iust which our text saith is this For they shall bee the priestes of God and Christ and shall raigne with him a thousande yeares Cicero hath saide that true beatitude or blessednesse consisteth of two partes Namely to be frée from al kinde of want and miserie and so to abound in all goodnesse that on no parte he néedeth to aske further Surely this very happinesse shall come to all those which be partakers of the first resurrection First they shall be frée from all woe and miserie in the ende of their course for the seconde death shall haue no power of them And they shall abounde in all felicitie for they are blessed holy and shall therefore raigne with Christ for euer more And here againe beloued note with me what it is to be blessed and holy Namely to haue forgiuenes of our sinnes in Christes death Heb. 9. and by the same to be purged and segregated from dead workes to serue the liuing God Psal 32.1.2 Rom. 4.7.8 Blessed are they saith Dauid whose iniquities are forgiuen whose sinnes are couered blessed is the man to whome the Lorde doeth not impute sinne And then againe note who they be that are so blessed by Gods censure here marke it wel and thou shalt sée it Not they that liue so vprightly that God hath not any thing to lay to their charges for none such can be founde amongest the sonnes of men For what is he that liueth and sinneth not yea more then seauen times a day Psal 14.1 53.4 No flesh is righteous in Gods sight for all haue sinned Rom. 3.23 all haue gone out of the way euery man his seuered course this after this sinne another after that and all are therefore depriued of the glory of God Dan. 9.5 All are taught to cry We our fathers haue sinned wee haue done vniustly but deale not with vs O Lord in thine anger for then wee perishe but in the multitude of thy mercies haue thou mercie vpon vs and forgiue vs our trespasses And heerein consisteth the felicitie of the iust that they haue féeling heartes of sinne and penitent spirites for their transgressions humbled soules void of hypocrisie before the Almightie God confessing with teares in great remorse agonies their heaps of corruptions before him Euen Marie Christes mother the Apostles and all the foure electe of God Then are these mixed persons whome the Papistes make the thirde sorte to goe to purgatorie onely they which are blessed and are the whole number of the electe All which as they confesse them selues worthie the seconde death because of Sinne and no wayes can merite eternall life because their beste workes are full of corruption So they mightily triumphe ouer sinne Esa 30.22 death and hell because they are purged in the bloode of the lambe Reuel 7.14 and haue their garmentes made white are pardoned of their former sinnes by faith in hys bloode are sanctified vnto godlinesse Yea so long as they liue they confesse because they féele the burthen of sinne in them but they reioyce in this felicitie that his spirite worketh in them an ardent zeale and burninge desire to liue in godlinesse and honestie according to such portion as the Lord doeth giue them in their parte of the first resurrection And hee that seeth not this nor hath the practise of the premisses is blinde and hath forgotten the purgation of sinnes Last of all forget not this our Apostle doth not say Blessed is he 2. Pet. 1.9 which hath perfection in the firste resurrection but blessed is hee that hath hys part in the first resurrection So as though there bee in vs yet the remnauntes of sinne and we can not quite shake off that which cleaueth so faste on Heb. 12.1 or fully créepe from that burthen that presseth so harde vpon vs therefore alwayes of this sort that are before called mixt yet that Mediocritie or mixture can not sende vs to the second death if we haue our part in the firste resurrection But I would not leaue thy conscience to bare affirmations There be verie sounde reasons to drawe thy confidence to this comforte 1. Reason The firste is the great mercie and rich clemencie of God the father whose mercie hath béene such towardes vs that when wée were his enemies through sinne hee hath euen then reconciled vs to himselfe by his grace howe much more therefore nowe shall he estéeme vs for his and embrace vs with his armes of mercie séeing we being so reconciled séeke for his spirite to dwell in his loue If hee from his wrath deliuered vs whē we had no care of him shal he not much more nowe deliuer vs shew a parte thereof which they say is purgatorie nowe that our chiefe desire is to séeke after him and doe lament at the verie heart