my mouth shal speake truth and wicked is abhomination to my lips All the words of my mouth are in righteousnesse and there is no-nothing froward or peruerse in them They are all plaine to him that vnderstandeth and right to them that finde knowledge e Pro. 8.6.7.8.9 out of these this Rule is gathered That such as haue vnderstanding do know that the Scriptures are not so darke and crooked and peruerse or froward as men do make them neither do they at all crosse one another And therefore the answer is that that of Lazarus is a parable noting thus much that howsoeuer Gods children are esteemed miserable and wretched here and rich men set light by them yet hereafter their estate shall bee so different as that wicked men would change their mindes if it were possible but then it will be too late And in a word The necessitie distresse hunger thirst and such like miseries of Gods children are onely in seeming The truth is they are euer in a maruellous comfortable estate howsoeuer their aduersaries iudg no according to their iudgement of the estate of Gods children shall they be iudged at the last day For they do indeede account them a cursed company of People worthy of all shame and reproch They oppresse them draw them before iudgement seates mock them rent their garments from them withdraw from theÌ„ al succor and do scarse account them worthy of the licking of their dogges yea they keepe them as much as in them lieth from the means of life or comfort And in this sence are they sayd to be destitute hungry thirsty naked sicke strangers in necessitie distresse in heauinesse sorrowfull poor yea most miserable but here obserue the Loue of God These tyrants that shall bee damned and perish eternally at the last day for handling the Saints thus and for not stretching out their hands to releiue them f Mat. 25.41.42.43 These bloody Tyrants that thinke they do God seruice through their blindnesse when they kill the Saints g Io. 16.1.2.3 and speake hard things against them h Iude 15. They are deceiued for though the Saints are troubled on euery side yet are they not distressed though perplexed yet not in despaire though persecuted yet not forsaken cast downe but not destroyed i 2. Cor. 4.8.9 They are as sorrowfull yet alway reioycing as poore yet making many ritch as hauing nothing yet possessing all things k 2. Cor. 6.10 yea they take pleasure in infirmities in reproches in necessities in persecutions in distresses for Christs sake l 2. Cor. 12.10 And when such Tirants thinke they are in great heauinesse then doe they greatly reioyce m 1. Pet. 1.6 n Mat. 5.12 yea they are exceeding glad so that they reioyce with Ioy vnspeakeable and full of Glory o Luc. 6.23 1. Pet. 1.7.8 for they can bee abased and they can abound they haue learned in what estate soeuer therewith to be content yea they possesse the hundred-fold gaine of godlinesse a 1. Tim. 6.8 notwithstanding the bloodiest persecutioÌ„ of their most raging aduersaries Yea in all they are more then conquerors and though they are slaine all the day long and are accounted euen as sheepe appointed for the slaughter yet in all this they know God is faithfull and the issue shall bee his glory and their euerlasting good b Rom. 8.28 And so you see clearely that the promises of God are yea and Amen in Christ Iesus and peruerted Scriptures doe not darken them a Iot to such as walke by Faith and not by sight c 2. Cor. 5.7 Continuance Lastly that wee may truely though not fully see this beginning of Heauen vpon Earth and the excellency of the estate of Gods children euen whiles they are yet on Earth Let vs consider what the Scripture speaketh of their safetie and assured continuance in this condition Thus the Scripture speakes plainely They that trust in the Lord shall neuer be remooued but abide for euer d Ps 125.1 Also hee will not suffer thy foote to be mooued and hee that keepeth thee will not sleepe e Ps 121.3 And hauing described an inhabitant of Sion or a Iustified childe of God The Prophet Dauid affirmeth by the holy Ghost That he shall neuer be mooued f Ps 15.5 Also our Lord himselfe had said that whosoeuer heareth and doeth his sayings is like vnto a wise man which built his house vpon a Rocke And the raine descended and the flood came and the winde blewe and it beate vpon that house and it fell not for it was founded vpon a Rocke g Mat. 7.24 25. And Luke writeth his wordes thus whosoeuer commeth to mee and heareth my sayings and doeth them I will shewe you to whom hee is like Hee is like a man which built an house and digged deepe and laide the foundation on a Rocke and when the flood arose the streame beate vehemently vpon that house and could not shake it for it was founded vpon a rocke h Luc. 6.47 48. So of the whole Church it is written vpon this Rocke will I builde my Church and the gates of Hell shall not preuaile against it i Mat. 16.16.18 Now because in this Scripture we reade that hee saide Thou art Peter vpoÌ„ this Rock c. The name Peter signifying a stone hence there are some would haue the Church to be built vpon Peter others vpon Peters confession Both these are deceiued howbeit the lat-seeme to come somewhat neerer the trueth and their errors especially of the former sort is as was the errors of those false witnesses that stood vp against Christ and testified That if they would destroy the Temple at Ierusalem which was fortie and sixe yeeres in building he would raise it vppe againe in three dayes whereas it is euident he spake of the Temple of his Body So doe these apply that to Peter and to Peters confession which was but a voice which shold be applied to Christ himselfe who â—s indeede the Rocke as hee is expressely called by Paul where hee writeth thus Our Fathers did all eate the same spirituall meate and did all drinke the same spirituall drinke for they dranke of the spirituall Rocke that followed them and that Rocke was Christ l 1. Cor. 10.4 So also the same blessed Apostle writing of the Saints hath these wordes Yee are built vppon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles Iesus Christ himselfe being the chiefe corner stone m Eph. 2.20 Also the same Paul writeth thus other foundation can no man lay then that which is laide which is Iesus Christ n 1. Cor. 3.11 And let vs adde to all these that of the Prophet Isaiah where it is thus written He that walketh righteously and speaketh vprightly he that despiseth the gaine of oppressions that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes stoppeth his eares from hearing of blood and shutteth his eyes from seeing euill he
of Christs kingdoms flourishing he saith In that day there shall be a roote of Iesse which shall stand vp for an ensigne to the people to it shall the Gentiles seeke and the Rest shall bee glorious Å¿ Isa 11.10 And the same Prophet in another place â—aith thus from the Lord Behold I â—reate the fruite of the lips Peace Peace to him that is a farre off and to him that is neare saith the Lord and I will heale him t Isa 57.13 Also speaking of the Church The Lord by that Prophet saith thus Behold I will extend Peace to her like a Riuer u Isa 66.12 And this is that Peace which our blessed Redeemer speaketh of where he saith Peace I leaue with you my Peace I giue vnto you not as the world giueth giue I vnto you let not your hearts be troubled neither let it be afraide x Io. 14.27 Here this Peace is directly opposed to the feares and terrors the trouble and disquiet of such as haue it not Hence it is that such as hearken to wisedome are promised to dwell safely and to be quiet from feare of euill yea this is manifest in Dauid when he had once ouercome he could say Returne to thy Rest O my soule for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee And turning him to the Lord he saith Thou hast deliuered my soule from Death mine eyes from teares and my feete from falling y psal 116 7.8 In this comfortable estate was Hezechiah when Isaiah comes vnto him with terrible tidings and that from the Lord telling him That the daies come that all that was in his house that which his fathers had laide vp in store vnto this day should be carried away into Babylon and that the Lord had said that nothing should be left And that his sons which should issue from him and which he should beget they should take away and they should be Eunuches in the Pallace of the king of Babylon At this terrible and dreadfull tydings hee is not disquieted but hee doth manifest his peaceable â—nd most comfortable estate yea â—â—t he had obtained this Peace and â—â—st the inseparable companions â—r effects of righteousnesse by his â—ouing amiable most temperate answer where he saith Good is the word of the Lord which thou hast spoken And to this he added Is it not good if Peace and Truth bee in my daies z 2. Kin. 20.17.18.19 And is not this and vnspeakeable benefite to haue such a blessed change wrought to haue such surpassing Peace and Rest in this Life If there were no more but this it is worth all the paines we suffer and all the afflictions we vndergoe and yet men are so ouerâ—ome with doubtings and vnbeâ—efe that they struggle not for this Rest and surely the Reason is because â—hey beleeue not the Scriptures To this Peace which passeth all vnderstanding is added Ioy which is vnspeakeable and ful of Glory a 1. pet 18. Thâ— is that ioy of the holy Ghost thaâ— blessed and glorious Comforâ—er Ioy. aâ— it is written The kingdome of Goâ— is not Meate and Drinke but Righteousnesse and Peace and Ioy of thâ— holy Ghost b Rom. 14.17 The difference betweene this and the Ioy of Hypocrites is knowne by these The Ioy oâ— Hypocrites is very short and it dotâ— vanish at length and come to nothing as it is written The triumphing of the wicked is short and thâ— Ioy of the Hypocrite but for a moment Though his excellency mount vâ— to the Heauens and his head reacâ— vnto the Clouds yet he shall perisâ— for euer like his owne dung and theâ— which haue seene him shall say wherâ— is he He shall flie away as a dreame and shall not be found yea he shall bâ— chased away as a visioÌ„ of the night c Iob. 20.5.6.7.8 But the ioy of the Saints is euerlasting as it is written The Redeeâ—ed of the Lord shall returne and â—ome with singing to Sion euerlaâ—ting Ioy shall be vpon their Heards they shall obtaine ioy and gladnesse and sorrow and sighing shall flye away d Is 35.10 Isa 51.11 It shall neuer be taken from them as it is written I will see you againe and your heart shall reioyce â—nd your Ioy no man taketh from you e Io. 16.22 This continually increaseth as it is written that our Lord saith to his Disciples As my Father hath loued mee so haue I loued you continue yee in my Loue. These things haue I spoken vnto you that my Ioy might remaine in you and that your â—oy might be full f Io. 15.9.11 And this is the â—irst difference betweene the Ioy of Hypocrites and our Ioy. Theirs is short or momentany ours euerlasting â—heirs is taken from them ours neuer â—heirs vanisheth ours increaseth A second difference is that the Ioy of the Hypocrite is not accompanied with Peace and Rest for these are alwayes the effects of Righteousnesse And we know that there is no Peace to the wicked for the Lord hath spoken it g Is 48.22 And who knowes not that an Hypocrite is a wicked man in the highest degree But the Ioy of the righteous is alwayes accompanied with Peace and Rest as it is euident where Righteousnesse and Peace and Ioy of the holy Ghost are ioyned together as inseperable coÌ„panions and that very often in Scriptures as where it is written The Kingdome of God is not meate and drinke but Righteousnesse and Peace and Ioy of the holy Ghost h Rom. 14.17 As if it should haue beene saide in more plaine wordes it is not the obseruation of meates and drinkes and such other outward things that discouers vs to bee of the Kingdome of Christ but it is Righteousnesse and Peace and Ioy of the holy Ghost these are indeede the things that makes vs manifest to our selues and others to be Christs subiects also the same Apostle saith to the same Saints Now the God of hope fill you with all Ioy and Peace in beleeuing i Rom. 15.13 Loe heare Ioy and Peace are ioyned together in true beleeuers Also wee being iustified by Faith haue Peace with God and reioyce in hope of the glory of God k Rom. 5.1.2 Also in that excellent Psalme Then are they glad because they be at quiet and so he bringeth them to their desired hauen Heare is also gladnesse and rest Also the Prophet Isaiah speaking of the Church saith Thus saith the Lord behold I will extend Peace to her like a Riuer and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing streame then shall yee sucke and be borne vpon her sides and dandled vpon her knees as one whom his mother comforteth so will I comfort you and yee shall be comforted in Ierusalem And when ye see this your heart shall reioyce and your bones shall flourish like an hearbe m Is 66.12.13.14 Here is Peace and Ioy to the Saints And this is another manifest difference betweene the Ioy
of the Hypocrite and of the child of God Though the Hypocrite triumph and reioyce yet he is neuer at quiet But the childe of God hath also Peace and Rest A third difference is this the Ioy of the Hypocrite lifts him vp as before Though his excellency mount vp to the Heauens and his head reatch vnto the Cloudes n Iob. 20.6 This doeth plainely shew the exaltation of Hypocrites in their reioycing and triumph yea these are so exalted that they despise others which our blessed Lord obserued and discouered by a parable where it is written That he spake this parable to certaine men which trusted in themselues that they were righteous and despised others Two men went vp into the Temple to Pray the one a Pharisee the other a Publicane The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himselfe God I thanke thee that I am not as other men are o Luc. 18.9.10.11 Thus doe Hypocrites exalt themselues and are lifted vp with Capernaum to Heauen though they shall come down to Hell p Mat. 11.23 Hee is so caried away with the Loue of himselfe that hee basely accounteth of other But the Ioy of the Saints is neuer seuered from meekenesse and lowlinesse q Gal. 5.22.23 They are all clothed with humilitie r 1. Pet. 5.5 For these haue learned not to reioyce in themselues but in the Lord as it is written Reioyce in the Lord alway and againe I say reioyce let your Moderation be knowen vnto all men the Lord is at hand yea the same minde is in them which was also in Christ Iesus who being in the forme of God thought it no robbery to be equall with God but made himselfe of no reputation and tooke vpon him the forme of a seruant and was made in the likenesse of men And being found in fashion as a man he humbled himselfe and became obedient vnto Death euen to the Death of the Crosse Å¿ Phil. 4.4.5 So those that reioyce with exceeding great ioy when they saw that the Lambe had preuailed to open the Booke with seuen seales we reade that they fell downe before the Lambe t Reuel 5.8 And this is another manifest difference betweene the Hypocrites Ioy and the Ioy of the Saints The Hypocrites Ioy makes him proude and lifts him vp and causeth him to despise others The Ioy of the Saints doth humble him yea cast him downe before the Lord and is alwayes accompanied with Humilitie A fourth difference is this That the Ioy of the Hypocrite holdes not out in persecution as it is plaine where it is written Those on the Rocke are such which when they heare receiue the word with Ioy and these haue no roote which for a while beleeue and in time of Temptation fal away u Luc. 8.13 But Matthew writeth thus Hee that receiueth the seede in stony places the same is he which heareth the word and anone with Ioy receiueth it yet hath hee no roote in himselfe but dureth for a while for when Tribulation or Affliction ariseth because of the word by and by he is offended a Mat. 13.20.27 Whereas the Ioy of the childe of God that is indeed iustified by Faith in the blood of Christ doth increase in tribulation yea euen in the greatest trials such doe glory as it is written We glory in Tribulation b Rom. 5.3 And Iames also biddeth vs To account it all Ioy when wee fall into diuers Temptations c Iam. 1.2 Also Peter speaketh of this Ioy where speaking of manifold Temptations yet wee reioyce greatly in them all in the consideration of the liuely Hope and neuer fading inheritance which wee beleeue is laide vp for vs and shall be reuealed in the last time d 1. Pet. 1.5.6 We are as sorrowfull yet alway reioycing e 2. Cor. 6.10 This appeareth plainely in the examples of such Redeemed ones As the blessed Apostles when they were beaten departed from the Counsell reioycing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for Christs name f Act. 5.41 So Paul and Silas when they were cruelly beaten and had receiued many stripes and were cast into prison yea thrust into the inner prison and their feete made fast in the stockes yet at midnight they prayed and sang praises vnto God so loude that the prisoners heard them g Act. 16.22.33.24.25 Thus hauing laid down some differences betweene the Ioy of Hypocrites and of the Saints as that their Ioy is but for a moment ours is euerlasting their Ioy doth exalt and lift them vp ours doth humble and cast vs downe theirs is seuered from Peace and Rest ours accompanied with them both theirs failes them when tribulation commeth ours holdes out nay which is more encreaseth in the most sharpe and fiery Trials And by this the false Ioy of the Hypocrite being discouered the true Ioy of the Saints is clearely seene Which Ioy doth so comfort them as that it is truely saide of them That the voyce of reioycing and saluation is in the dwellings of the Righteous h Ps 118.15 These are euer singing making melody in their hearts vnto the Lord. Speaking to themselues in Psalmes and Hymnes and spirituall songs i Ephes 5.19 singing with Grace in their hearts vnto the Lord k Col. 3.16 So we read of the huÌ„dred fourty foure thousand that were with the Lambe on mount Sion that they had the voyces of harpers harping with harpes and they sang as it were a new song before the Throne and before the foure Beastes and the Elders and no man could heare that song but the hundred fourty and â—ure thousand which were neuer â—edeemed from the Earth l Reuel 14.1.2.3 Also â—hen the Lambe had taken the â—ooke out of the hand of him that â—te vpon the Throne hauing also â—reuailed to open the seuen seales â—hereof wee reade that the foure â—eastes and the foure and twentie â—lders fell down before the Lambe â—auing euery one of them harpes â—nd golden Vials full of Odours which are the Prayers of Saintes And they sung a new song saying Thou art worthy to take the Booke â—nd to open the Seales therof for thou vast slaine and hast Redeemed vs â—o God by thy blood out of euery â—indred and tongue and people and nation And hast made vs vnto our God Kings and Priests and we shall reigne on earth m Reu. 5.8 Also Iohn saith I saw as it were a Sea of Glasse mingled with fire and them that had gotâ—en the victory ouer the Beast and ouer his Image and ouer his markâ— and ouer the number of his Namâ— stand on the Sea of Glasse hauinâ— the Harpes of God And they sing thâ— Song of Moses the seruant of God and the song of the Lambe saying Great and maruellous are thy worke Lord God Almighty Iust and true are thy wayes thou King of Saints who shall not feare thee O Lord anâ— glorifie thy Name for thou onely arâ— holy for
thou hast rauished my heart with one of thine eyes with one chaine of thy necke e Cant. 4.9 And if Christ himselfe bee rauished with Comfort much more are the Saints who haue beene sometimes oppressed with sorow horror because that they sawe themselues vnworthy of being present at such glorious and beautifull assemblies by reason of their sinnes when these doe see and knowe themselues so blessed as that they are now by Grace become the Sonnes and Daughters of God then they reioyce and say with Iohn Behold what manner of Loue the Father hath shewed vnto vs that we should be called the Sons of God f 1. Io. 3.1 That he should seperate vs to be the Sonnes and Daughters of the Lord Almighty g 2. Cor. 6.18 That wee should haue Fellowship not onely with the Father and the Sonne but such vnspeakable comfort amongst the Saints in Light h 1. Io. 1.3.7 Col. 1.12.13 And surely the comfort of such Communion is set foorth plainly where it is written The Ransomed of the Lord shall returne and come to Sion with Songs and euerlasting Ioy vpon their heads they shall obtaine Ioy and gladnesse and sorrow and sighing shall flee away i 1. Is 35.10 Yea this is that feast spoken of where it is written And on this mountaine shall the Lord of hostes make vnto all people a feast of fatte things a feast of Wine on the Lees of fatte things full of Marrow of wine on the Lees well refined And he will destroy in this Mountaine the face of the couering cast ouer all people and the vaile that is spread ouer all Nations k Is 25.6.7 Also to this purpose is that where it is written of the Church Lift vp thine eyes round about and behold all these gather themselues together and come to thee as I liue saith the Lord thou shalt surely cloath thee with them all as with an ornament and binde them on thee as a Bride doth Thus saith the Lord God behold I will lift vp mine hand to the Gentiles and set vp my standerd to the people and they shall bring thy sonnes in their armes and thy daughters shall be carried vpon their shoulders And Kings l Is 49.18.22.23 shall be thy noursing Fathers Queenes thy noursing Mothers Also Thy watchmen shall lift vppe the voyce with the voyce togither shall they sing for they shall see eye to eye when the Lord shall bring againe Sion Breake foorth into Ioy sing togither yee wast places of Ierusalem for the Lord hath comforted his people he hath redeemed Ierusalem a Is 52.8.9 Also Thou shalt see and flow togither and thine heart shall feare and be inlardged because the abundance of the Sea shall bee conuerted vnto thee the forces of the Gentiles shall come vnto thee b Is 60.5 Also Reioyce yee with Ierusalem and bee glad with her all yee that loue her reioyce for Ioy with her all yee that mourne for her That yee may sucke and be satisfied with the breastes of her consolations that yee may milke out and be delighted with the aboundance of her Glory For thus saith the Lord Beholde I will extend Peace to her like a Riuer and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing streame then shall yee sucke and be borne vpon her sides and be dandled vpon her knees As one whom his mother comforteth so will I comfort you and yee shall be comforted in Ierusalem And when yee see this your heart shall reioyce and your bones shall flourish like an hearbe c Heb. 66.10.11.12.13.14 And how can they but reioyce in such assemblies who doe loue one another not in word and in tongue but in deed and trueth d 1. Io. 3.18 Yea their loue is feruent Loue out of pure hearts e 1. Pet. 1.22 yea such is the feruency of their loue as that they cannot onely bee content to part with goods but they can willingly lay downe their liues one for another f 1. Io. 3.16 This we see plainly in that example of Aquila and Priscilla g Rom. 16.3.4 who laide downe their owne neckes for Pauls life These are one anothers Keepers h Gen. 4.9 They doe watch ouer one another i Heb. 13.17 exhorting one another k Heh 3.13 and prouoking to loue and to good workes l Heb. 10.24 And to this ende they doe not only reioyce in great assemblies in times of Peace as before but euen in the hotest times of the most bloody persecution they cannot bee withholden but will come togither thogh it cost them their Liues m Act. 20.24 witnesse their often meetings in the time of the Apostles n Act. 4.12.17 Yea though they were drawen and haled out by violence before Magistrates o Iam. 2.6 yea they reioyce at the very sight one of another and receiue one another with feare and trembling p 2. Cor. 7.15.16 they are ready to performe the basest offices one for another as to wash one anothers feete q Io. 13.14.15 And the rather because of the high esteeme they haue one of another when they consider one another not as the sonnes and daughters of an earthly King which would procure an high esteeme if it were but so but they consider one another as the sonnes and daughters of the Lord Almightie r 1. Cor. 6.18 Io. 1.12.13 yea when they vnderstand themselues to bee no lesse then heires with God and coheires with Christ this is that which doeth knit them together and makes them to thinke that all they doe one for another to be too too little Å¿ Rom. 8.17 What should bee more spoken great is the comfort that Gods children haue one from another and the sweet Communion amongst the Saints is not to be expressed And how can it be but such as are Subiects of one Kingdome Å¿ Reuel 15.3 Citizens of one Citie t Eph. 3.14 Seruants of one Family u Eph. 3.14.15 Sonnes and Daughters of one Father â—nd Mother w Gal. 4.26 Lâ— 15.1.2.5 Branches of one vine â—iuely stones of one building x 1. Pet. 2. â— members of one body y 1. Cor. 12.27 yea one body one Spirit z Rom. 12.5 Eph 4.4 How is it possible but such should be neerely lincked togither â—n Loue haue so especiall familiaritie amongst themselues and be maruellous comfortable one to another And therefore these may bee iustly called A chosen generaâ—ion a Royall Priesthood an holy Nation a peculiar people a 1. Pet. 2.9 seeing by his Loue they do shew forth the praises of him who hath called them out of Darkenesse Guard of Angels into his maruellous Light And this is not the least beginning of Heauen vpon Earth nor the least tast of that vnspeakeable comfort the Saints shall enâ—oy at the right hand of God in the Heauens for euermore Adde to â—â—is the comforts wee haue by