Cittie And therfore gird vp the loynes of your mindes with veritie put on the brest plate of righteousnes be shod with the shooes of peace take to you the sheild of faith arming your selues with the woord of God that you may be pertakers of his vnsearchable treasures of happines there tasting the abundant sweetenesse of the tree of ioy and life which shall be to vs a sweete smelling oyntment for euer for then we shall be called the heauenly citizens of newe Ierusalem the holy housholde of God and glorified sonnes of the Father being according to Paul an holy body in Christ made a glorious congregation without spotte or wrinckle placed in his owne kingdome and sabboth of euerlasting rest like shining lightes in the presence of God world without end Therefore consider what happinesse is this to enioy the ineffable brightnesse and vnsearcheable plenteousnesse of Gods goodne sse with the ioyful presence of God his owne selfe whereat the zeale of gods house should eate vs vp and rauish our hearts with flaming feruencie to Godward desiring to be clothed with our heauenly mansion from heauen by waiting with a liuely hope in the way of righteousnesse to be deliuered from this body and fleshly fellowship that we may goe to haue the pure heauenly companie of God our maker the precious fountaine of all heauenlinesse ioy and happinesse there with him to remaine in his owne kingdome where all things shal be to vs pleasant and full of contentation for euer where perpetuall ioy and gladnesse shall abide for euer Esay 54. for saith God Beholde O Ierusalem I will make thy walles of precious stones and thy foundation of saphyrs thy windowes of Christall thy gates of fine cleare stone and thy borders of pleasant stones Es ay 62. for I will saith God marrie my selfe to thy sonnes and as a bridegrome glad of his bride so I the Lorde shall reioyce ouer thee So that praise the Lorde O Ierusalem praise thy God O Sion for he hath made fast the heauenly barres of thy gates hath blessed thy childrē within thee that we shall dwell in thy pallaces made the elect Saintes and sonnes of God in all plenteousnesse of ioy and peace reioysing in his holy sanctuary of euerlastingnesse where we shall walke in the court and pallace of our God ascribing praise and honour to him in his places of eternitie and there we shall sing merily vnto our God lauding and worshipping him in the beautie of his holinesse for the spirit of ioy shall there be triumphing among vs in his glorious chariot of heauenlinesse in that we shall beholde the face of God whose Maiestie endureth visibly with vs for euer shewing vpon vs the light of his countenance and filling vs rounde about with the incomprehensible sweetenesse goodnesse ioyfulnesse and excellentnesse of his owne selfe shining flowing and streaming foorth to vs the beames of beautie the brightnesse of glorie the fountaines of ioy the riuers of life the paradise of pleasure the fréedome of delightes the ornaments of honour the plenteousnes of reliefe the pleasantnes of all heauenly sauours the sweete smelles of all redolent odours and thus he shall reioice his glorified Saints eternally who shall be rauished with endlesse mirth and gladnes to behold with their eyes the infinite inexpressible excellencie and splendencie of the beautie of their maker and to heare the great power might and maiestie of his omnipotent voyce And thus the chosen of God being indued with the ornaments of immortalitie garlandes of glorie crownes of life and palmes of ioy and victorie are in their heauenly clothing in new Ierusalem in the sight of the glorious throne of the most highest being consembable to God in purenes and clearnes enioying the fréedome of eternall blessednes therefore O swé ete people repent for this kingdome is at hande and come to the waters of life and stirre vp your mindes to holinesse that you may enioy this blessed Cittie For Christe after his ascension to stirre vp winne a feruent desire to our hearts towards the séeking after this his kingdome doeth shew a glistering vision of newe Ierusalem to the spiritual eies of Iohn that he being vpon an high mountaine did sée in Ghostly comprehension the cons emblance of this holy Ierusalem descending out of heauen from God hauing the brightnesse of God shining like to a stone most precious Reuel 21. euen a Iasper cleare as Christall being thereby a most flourishing Citie translucident in all heauenly pleasantnesse most plentifull with all goodnesse most beautifull to beholde and most glorious to enioye and this Citie is more precious then pearles an habitation so amiable so louely so deare and desirefull that it includeth in it selfe the vnmeasurable and endlesse fulnesse of heauenly riches eternall felicitie and happinesse vnspeakeable pleasures ioyes and gladnesse ordeined eternally vnto the elect and glorified people That who woulde not O Lord loue the habitation of this thy house and the place where thine honour dwelleth which thou hast made a moste sure and safe Citie impugnable for euer being bordered and compassed rounde about with the walles of eternitie great high and strong which stande fast for euer And her walles sayeth Esay shall be called health Esay 60. Zacha. 2. And the Lorde sayeth Zacharie will be vnto her a wall of shining fire rounde about And yet the entrance into this Citie shall bee by twelue gates kept by the goodly Porters and Angelles the twelue tribes of Israel that the gates of newe Ierusalem according to the saying of the Prophet Esay shall be called the praise of God Esay 60. being agréeable in euery part in with and to it selfe in perfect nomber of equalitie and sympathie concording euery side together in one conclusion in the whole As Alpha and Omega is the first and the last as one perfect nomber of eternitie in many The liuely description of newe Ierusalem and the same many concluded in of and by that one And thus consymbolicall in deuine mysterie hath Ierusalē a quadrate equilateral forme with three gates on the North side three on the East three on the South three on the West side foūded with twelue foundations euen the holy Apostles of whom the walles conflict euen the great high nomber of the elect And thus there beeing in newe Ierusalem many gates and many heauenly openings to goe in at to praise the Lord yet are they one in many and many in one cohering in the same like a radicall roote out of which springeth a radicall nomber and yet that nomber so rising out of his roote to an high and great nomber as that it hath a true and perfect coniunction of vnitie The mys terie of a Radicall roote and radicall nomber to Christ and his elect simpathie and concordance of with and in his radicall roote whereby it is one of it selfe and of that same one rising out many and that many still
had yea aboue his sweete sonne Isac whome he loued as his owne life notwithstanding faithfully did Abraham preferre the loue of his almightie God and maker aboue the life of Isac offering him in sacrifice to the Lorde for which cause the eternall creatour to make his promise more certainely to sticke fast in Abraham and in all his posteritie sware by him selfe shewing that there was no God but him selfe saying in Genesis Gen. 22. â— Because thou hast not spared thy only son Isaac to offer him a sacrifice to me I will blesse thee and multiplie thy seede as the starres of heauen and as the sande vpon the sea side and in thy seede shall all the nations of the earth bee blessed because thou hast obeyed my voyce And thus the most merciful god although he cast Adam for his transgression out of Paradise and also destroyed the worlde for sinne yet he sheweth againe the voyce and promise of comfort that hee hath not cast vs off but hath giuen his gratious goodnes to the worlde that all nations through the seede of Abraham should be blessed according to that of the prophet Them I haue created facioned Esay 43. and made for mine honour And nowe the more to iustifie his true promise it is apparent that hee establisheth the foresaide testament to Is aac the first figure of Christ Gen. â—6 by whome all nations are sanctified Saying to Isac I will be with thee and blesse thee The promise for vnto thee and to thy seede will I giue all these countries and through thy seede shall all nations of the earth bee blessed becaus e that Abraham harkened to my voice and kept my ordinances commandements statutes and lawes wherein we are to learne how al our blessednes came of God the father of al goodnes to whom we ought alwaies to be thankefull framing our selues through his grace to be like Abraham in beleeuing and equall with him in obedience and ioyned with him in righteousnes that we may receiue the like praise and honour as God maketh mention of him to Isaac therby to obtaine as Paule promiseth the eternall ioye the praise honour and immortalitie that is due to them that continue in good doing and seeke eternall life Rom. 2. And finally God to seale vp the fulnes of his couenant the more and more to helpe and strengthen our weake harts of beliefe and to allure the children of promise to a fixed hope of his grace and goodnes The promise to Iacob doth reiterate his testament to Iacob that he being the seede of Abraham and Isaac that he shall be the well of liuing waters and that out of his loynes shall come the fountaine of all heauenly blessednes and the water of life grace goodnes saying The land which thou sleepest vpon Gen. 26. will I giue thee thy seed and thy seede shall be as the du st of the earth thou shalt spread abroad west east north and south and through thee and thy seede shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed according to Esay E say 43. I will bring thy seede from the east and gather them togeather from the west I will say to the north let goe and to the south keepe not backe but bringe me my sonnes from farre and my daughters from the ends of the world for all nations shall came in one and bee gathered in one people Gen. 35. for the Lorde saide againe vnto Iacob thou shalt be called Israell grow and multiplie for people and a multitude of people shall spring of thee yea and kings s hall come out of thy loynes and the land which I gaue Abraham and Isaac will I giue vnto thee and vnto thy seede after thee Thus the almightie God of our fathers Abraham Isaac and Iacob did seale the earnest of the inheritance of his euerlasting blessednes and kingdome in Christ with his holy spirite of promise made to our first fathers that he should come of the seede of Abraham according to the flesh by whom we should receaue redemption and saluation therby to be made partakers of Gods glorie And now furthermore after the proceedins of time that the seede of Iacob called Israell was increased to a great kindred of people and holden in bondage in the land of Egypt The Lord most mercifull and mindfull of his promise made to our forefathers Abraham Isaac and Iacob that he would be good vnto their seede raised vp among them Moyses a captaine and prophet that should deliuer and lead his people Israel out of Egypt into the land of Canaan which before he had giuen to Abraham and his seed for an euerlasting possession and this through Gods mightie hand who made a waye in the sea and a foote path in the mightie waters which brought forth the chariots and horses the host and power and drowned theÌ„ in the red sea And then brought his people vnto mount Synay in the wildernes where he gaue them the lawe figured in s tones shewing forth his wonderfull power that they did all tremble for feare and coulde not abide it for the people stood vnder the hill and the hill burnt with fire euen vnto the middes of heauen and there was the sound of a troump voyce of words tempest Deu. 4. darknes cloudes and mist and the Lord spake out of fire and declared his couenant and ordinance Exod. 19. and so terrible was the sight that appeared that Moyses said I feare quake And thus the law was giuen with great feare Exod. 34 and with great glorie for the children of Israell could not behould the face of Moyses for the glorie of his countenance with out a vayle which in Christ is put awaye for if the ministration of the lawe which is to condemnation bee glorious Cor. 2.3 much more doth the ministration of the spirite of promise vnto righteousnes exceede in glory And thus the law which began many hundred yeares after the promis e was added because of transgression as a schoolemaister to teach what sinne ment and not that it could giue life Gal. 3. or disanull the promise made to Abraham for the promise by faith in Iesus doth bring the inheritance and not the law which doth conclude all things vnder sinne for by the déedes of the law shall no man be iustified before God Rom. 3. but are iustified fréely by grace through the redemption that is in Christ Iesus who is the iustifier of them that beleeue in him after the example of righteous Abraham Wherefore the Lord to discouer our filthy nakednes and corruption brought by the sinnes of Adam did giue vs the law that therby we should come to the knowledge of our infirmities vices wretchednes which raigneth in our earthly members thereby knowing our state by the first Adam to be miserable and falne into the daungerous house and prison of al vncleannes being most wretched without hope vnlesse God of his
and wickednes so that it is manifest that the Church of Christ is tyed to no particular place or kingdome but is freely dispersed throughout the whole world wherby it appeareth that the Papists do worke against the streames of Iacob to stop the riuers from the thirstie And now againe the Lord saith Esay 43 44 I will power O Iacob my spirite vpon thy seede and mine increase vpon thy stocke they shall growe together like as the grasse for there shall spring out of them a captaine prince which the Lord shall chalenge to him selfe Iere. 30. Eâ—ay 6. Iere. 33. Es ay 49. who shall open the prison to them that are bound and he is the glad tydings to the poore who shall bring redemption to the captiue and res tore Israel and set vp his honour in Iuda and in Dauids stoole that all nations shall honour him yea kings and princes shall arise and worship this holy one of Ifraell By which the prophets conclude that although we know all the law of Moyses and bee carefull in keeping it yet wee are in prison and bondage to death without we imbrace Christ and preferre him aboue the law and aboue all workes as the onely doore to enter into Gods rest for he doth open the prison wherein we were tyed to damnation by the fetters of Adams corruption who hath the keyes of hell and death according to Esay vnto Sion shal come a redeemer yea the Lord said I will lay a stone in Sion a costly corner stone Esay 59. Esay 28. Zach. Dan. 2. a sure foundation that who so put his trust in hem shall not bee confounded And saith he behold I will hew him out and take away the sinne of the land in one day As saith Daniel there was hewen a stone without handes that smote the image and became a great mountaine which fulfilleth the whole earth so that it is vnpossible to obtaine glorification vnlesse we imbrace this precious stone of Sion neither is it possible for the great Image of the first or laste monarchy of Babylon to withstand or hold back the power of this stone of Sion by whose force the pompe of the Image of Rome shall be broken like an earthen pot that flyeth in many peeces although it please the Lord to suffer that romish beast still to beare a sway among those children which be as Esaw that make light of the birth-right of the eternall kingdome giuen onely by Christes gospell and not by the traditions and fancies of men And therefore that last Image of Babilon must bee shaken a sunder that promiseth other meanes and more waies to winne euerlasting life then onely by this corner stone Wherefore as pure gold is tryed from counterfect by the touch so all ye that feare damnation trye the traditions of that Image of Rome by reading the pure gospell with feare and reuerence to God and with care of your soules health and you shall finde that the gospell which is the true touch of truth will bring thee home againe from the darke dales of Rome to the bright mountaine of Sion of whom the Lord said by Ieremie I will set vp the righteous braunch of Dauid that shall set vp equitie in the earth that Iuda shall be saued Iere. 23. and Israel dwell without feare and they shall call him the Lord our righteous maker for saith the Lord I wil giue you an heardman Iere. 3. after my owne minde which shall feede you with wisedome that Ierusalem shall be called the Lords seate Esay 2. for the law shall come out of Syon and the word of God from Iesalem And therefore we must desire onely to be fed with the wisedome that proceede from this our heauenly heardman imbracing no other word of doctrine but that which he gaue vs from Ierusalem being his pure gospell builded vpon the Apostles and prophets for saith Paule the holy Scripture is able to make the wise to saluation through the faith which is in Christ Iesus Timoth. â— â— And therfore beware least you be spoyled through Philosophy and deceitfull vanitie and through the traditions of men Col. 2. and ordinances after the world and not after Christ for the Lord said by Ieremie I will make a new couenant with the house of Israell that is Iere. 31. I will plant my lawes in their inward parts euen in their hartes and will be their God and from thence forth shall no man teach his brother or neighbour saying know God for they shall all know me from the lowest to the highest according to Ioel Ioel. 2. I will power out my spirite vpon all flesh and your sonnes and daughters shall prophesie your olde men shall dreame dreames and your young men shall see vis ions yea vpon those daies I will powre out my spreit vppon s eruants and Maides Whereby wée may gather that such is the power of the Gospell of Christ and promise of our redemption and saluation that neither the contrary powers of Sathan nor the obstinat malicious or barbarous tyranie of men hath powre to withholde it at the tyme appointed from the people of God for the Lorde hath spoken it that it shall spread ouer the world and that his spyrit shall enter into all fleshe It is against the prophesie of Ioel to hold the Scripture in an vnknow on language So that it is great repugnauce to the ordenaÌ„ce of God to holde back the frute swéet taste of the Gospell from the people by concealing it vnder a cloke of an vnknowen language strange tounge which is a vaile that hydes the face and brightnes of the glory of the Gospell of our saluation from the people that desyre to knowe it sée it and ought to come vnto it as the vayle did hang before Moyses face because the childreÌ„ could not behold the glory of his countenance which God gaue by geuing the law but now we are able through the gift of the spreit of Christ who hath takeÌ„ away the vaile from Moyses giueÌ„ an opeÌ„ fountaine of cléernes to behold the trueth of his gospell of saluatioÌ„ in that it is the Lords bountifull blessing that all flesh should fele the operation of the holy spreit to come to to his waters buy his milke wine witout mony and mony worth which is his gospell that féedeth and nuris heth like milke gladdeth cheareth the hart like wine so that héerby is cléerly condeÌ„ned cast to the ground the traditions of papistrie that lock vp the word of God in an vnknowen language that none can come to Gods holy water without mony or mony worth such is the darnel cockel of their traditioÌ„s as to worrow Chris tes shéep to wrap theÌ„ in blindnes wheÌ„ notwtstanding it ought to be that the gospel should be opened plain manifest and vnclocked that the saying of the prophet may be fulfilled both soÌ„nes daughters maids
seruants to prophesie which is with vnders tanding to offer vnto God by Christ the sacrifice of lande the frute of those lippes which confesse his name Wherfore it is apparent that it is the duety and part of princes and gouernours to follow herein the example of Iehosaphat causting the word of god plainly to be taught among their subiects in the mother language as Moyses law was to the children of Israell And it is the duetie and charge of the pastors and ministers to imploy al their diligence to manifest the holy will of God according to the scriptures by teaching and instructing that euerye where the scripture may be fulfilled according to the prophecie of Ioel and Ieremie that sonnes and daughters can prophesie and the law written in their hartes so that it standeth you vpon to haue care of your soules Coloss 2. Mich. 3. that no man make you shoote at a wrong marke Wherefore Micheas thus prophecieth of the dewe of the gospell of Christ saying In the latter daies the hill of the Lords house shall be set vp higher then anye mountaines and the people shall prease vnto it the multitude of gentils hast to it for the law shal come out of Syon and the word of God from Ierusalem and reforme the people of farre countries Nath. â—â— for out of Bethlem shal come the captain which shall be the gouernar in Israel whose out going hath beene from the beginning and froÌ„ euerlasting he shal stand fast giue food in the strength of the Lord in the victorie of the name of the Lord his god when they bee conuerted he shal be magnified to the farthest parts of the world Wherby it is declared that in spite of all the aduersaries the tread downe the holy sanctuarie of true righteousnes will they nill they the promise which God gaue to Abraham that all nations should bee blessed in his s eede shal by Christs passion extend to all parts of the world to the praising glorifying of god And likewise Esoras doth plainely foretell the ioyfulnesse of Christes comming in his humanitie saying O ye heathen Esdr 4. â— looke for your shepheard he shal giue you euerlasting reste for hee is nighe at hande that shall come in the ende of the worlde be readie to the reward of thy kingdom for the euerlasting light shall shine vpon you for euermore Flye the shadowe of this world receiue the ioyfulnes of your glorie I testifie my sauiour openly O receiue the gift that is giuen you and be glad giuing thanks vnto him that hath called you to the heauenly kingdome In this he sheweth how much he is inflamed with the glad foresight of the sauiour that shuld come kindlyng the hartes of the Gentiles to the expectation of heauenly rewards Wherein he is able to rauish all mens hartes with exceeding ioy in pronouncing the glad tidinges of such a blessed sauiour comming that bringeth the rewardes of glorie and euerlasting life to al that will receiue and imbrace his gospell And seing the comming of Christ in the flesh was ioyfull and filled the world with the oyle of gladnes and treasures of grace and goodnes how much more we now looking for him to come in the end of the world in the glorie of his father in all power to giue the rewardes of glorification and eternall life ought to awake and arise vp from all worldly and fleshly vanities and prepare our hartes to holines and righteousnes that with the aboundant ioy of a pure faith and a cleere and a stedfast hope we may meete our sauiour comming in the cloudes And touching Christes comming in his humanitie it pleased God that he should appeare in the flesh in all meeknes Zach. 9. Iohn 12. Luke 9. Math. 21. Mark 11. lowlines and humblenes of obedience to teach vs the will of his father in all truth of righteousnes according to Zacharie Reioyce O Syon and bee glad O daughter Ierusalem for loe thy king commeth vnto thee euen the righteous and sauiour lowly and simple is he hee rydeth vpon an Asse he will giue doctrine of peace vnto the heathen and his dominion shall be from the floudes to the end of the world and shall be a sauing health to all nations by this consider ye men vpon the earth how worthy Chris t is and how precious a pearle he is in all mens harts and yet to shewe the contempte of this transitorie world and the vanitie thereof and to teache vs the true path steppes of vertue and holynes dooth hé ere make him self to the eyes of all Ierusalem a looking glasse of all low lines and humblenes of hart ryding into the Cittie in all plaines and simplenes sitting vppon an asse as one of no reputation and nothing estéemed but like an inferiour and yet an eternall king a captaine an heauenly Father and sauiour of the world by whoÌ„e we are to note that the true path to vertue and holynes is humilitie obedience and lowlynes for among the conferences of men it is a most accepted thing to common rea son to haue our gouernour our captaine our maister or teacher of whome we are to be gouerned guided or instructed to be gentle humble mé ek louing tractable curteous and mercifull-by that meanes winning drawing our harts voluÌ„tarily to loue him follow him imbrace his will then how much more are we bouÌ„d to god that all the world sleping in their sin wallowing in their wickednes that it pleased him not to coÌ„e vnto vs with the sharpe rod or with the naked or scored sword to the s laughter but to sende his déere sonne Christ in the humilitie of the fleshe to be like vnto vs being such a true gentle captaine guide so louing and bountifull a redemer so humble lowly a tearher so pure of demenor conuersation as that he is the only true lodestoÌ„e of loue to drawe all men which are of them selues stubburn froward disdainfull and wilfull to the louing imbracing of him therby the redier to followe his doctrine of eternall peace saluatioÌ„ to vs ward And therfore beholde the abundaÌ„t loue mercy of god who thus after so excelleÌ„t a meanes seketh to draw vs froÌ„ our earthly corroptioÌ„ and froÌ„ the bdoÌ„age of death to his heuinly grace eternall kingdome we being of our selues a froward generation touching goodnes in the sin did dwell in vs as a common rotto all mankinde if the God of mercies had not sent this our redéemer to clense and wash away our filth and foulenes and therefore let no man boaste of him selfe any thing for wee haue nothing which wée haue not receiued of Christ neither according to the saying of Ieremie Let not the wise man reioyce in his wisdome nor the strong in his strength Ieremie 9. nor the rich man in his riches but who will reioyce let him reioyce in Christe who is our only saluation Wherfore o ye
shal according to the first of the Actes come againe downe vpon mount Oliuet Zacharie 14. and according to Zacharie Hee shall stande vpon mount Oliuet the mount of the eternall light that lieth vpon the East side of Ierusalem Place of Iudgement And the mount Oliuete shall cleaue in two eastward and wes tward so that there shall be a great valley and the half mount shall remoue toward the north and the other toward the south and thither wee shall flye into the valley of the Lords hilles where the Lord shal be and all his Saincts with him and this is the valley of Iosaphat which Ioel speaketh of saying Let the people ryse and get them to the valley of Iosaphat Ioel. 3. for there will I set sayth the Lord and iudge all heathen round about and there shall bee many people in that day of the Lord in the same valley appointed when the Lord shall roare out of Sion and cry out of Ierusalem that the heauens and earth shall quake withall and the sun and moone shal be darkened and the starres withdrawe their light and then shall we knowe that the Lord our God dwelleth vppon the holy mount Sion and that Ierusalem is holy inhabited for euer more And thus sayth Esay the sunne and moone shall bee ashamed Esay 24. when the Lord of hoastes shall come with his hie heauenly hoast from abooue to rule the people at Ierusalem vppon mount Syon And now beholde how Iesus our eternall king iudge béeing thus come downe from the toppe of all heauens with an heauenly company of beautifull bright Angells and goodly creatures triumphing with the glorie of all celestiall pompe Reue. 20. Is sitting according to Iohn in the great white seat from whose face flyeth away bothe the earth and heauen their place no more found And there bothe great and small stand before GOD ready to be rewarded with his glorious and euerlasting kingdome saying blessing honour glorie and power bee vnto him that sitteth on the seate and to the Lamb for euermore And thus our omnipotent and glorious King our mercifull Sauiour and Iudge hath stretched foorth his glorious and omnipotent throne and seate of maiestie vpon the valley of Iosaphat the blessed valley of GOD where all thinges in heauen and in earth are gathered before him to iudgement where hée openly sheweth foorth his woorthines and pretiousnes glittering lyke to a Iasper or Sardine stone which stones are moste cleare and of a moste florishing purenes without corruption being of propertie and nature of so excellent a vertue Reue. 4. as to kindle the harts and myndes of the beholders to ioy and also to animat and stirre vp their spirits to delight mirth and gladnes and so in superabundant measure of vnspeakablenes doothe Christe appeare vnto vs moste graciously sitting vppon his tribunall seate houlding his court regall with all fleshe there glistering so with incōparable endlesse brightnes and purenes of glorie as to kendle all harts excedingly and abooue all that may be thought to the praysing lauding and magnifying his moste excellent and renowned maiestie And there was about his seat thousand thousands saying with a lowde voice worthie is the Lamb that was killed to receiue power and riches and wisdome and strength and honour and glory and blessing And this seat was bordred about with a goodly and heauinly Raine-bow lyke a Smaradge as with a moste precious ring representing the riches of Gods promises to be performed and the blessednes of his promises touching election and his iudgements touching distruction to be like as the raine-bow is roūd and with out end so them to be without end for euer and as the Smaradge is durable Esdras 4.5 so the promises and iudgement of God shall indure for euer according to Esdras God lykneth his iudgement to a ring And now ahout the seat are twentie and fower seates and vpon the seate twenty and fower Elders sitting clothed in amiable white Garments being the raines of righteousnes and robes of iuss tice hauing on their heades crouwnes of golde beeing made kings royall préestes vnto God and Iudges of the trybes béeing the Patriarches and twelue Apostles according to Daniell I loked till the seates were prepared till the olde aged set them down according to Mathew Mathew 1◠Christ sayd vnto his Apostles yée shall sit vppon twelue seates and iudge the twelue trybes of Israell whereby wée see the great glorie power and dignitie with whiche the Lord dooth adorne his messengers and Apostles withall that they shall accompanie our eternall God and king Iesus Christe vpon his maiesticall throne of Iudgement to manifest the excellencie of Gods treuth in open iudgement iudgeing the enemies of Christe Whereby wee may well perceiue the woorthines of our glorie to be great if wee so liue that we may be found acceptable in the sight of God thereby to be made the sonnes of God glorified with glorious bodies like the Apostles euermore accompaning with Christe him selfe in his new Cittie of Ierusalem his moste blessed kingdome And now out of the seat proceeded lightnings and thundrings and voyces the first béeing the glistering and lightning streames of Gods mercy towards the godly the second beeing the dreadfull thundering fearefull s ound of Gods iudgement toward the wicked and the third beeing the heauenly voyces of the Angells and Saincts praysing lawding magnifying God in his omnipotent goodnes and glorie as at the byrthe of Christe the Angells and multitude of heauenly souldiers stood before Christe in vision to the Shéep-heards according to Luke lawding God and saying Luke 2. Glory be to God on high and peace on the earth and with men reioycing And the glorious Throne of GOD is full of all power glorie and honour according to the saying of Ieremie Whose Throne is moste glorious excellent and of moste antiquitie which dwellest in the place of our moste holy and blessed rest And according to the saying of the Prophet Danyell His Throne was lyke vnto the fierie flame and his wheales as the burning fire and there drewe forth a fierie streame and went out from him béeing the mighty and eternall blases of Gods goodnes Daniell 7. mercy and iudgmēt to the great ioy and gladnes of the righteous to beholde and to the wunderfull terrour feare and dread of the wicked to see abyde and indure and thus replenished with all excellēncie and gloriousnes is this seat of iudgement That there are seuen shyning Lamps of fire burning before the seat béeing the seuen spirits of God shewing a goodly faire and cleare light and a pure cleare expressing of the clearnes of almightie GOD béeing the heauenly witnes of the euerlasting treuth of God and béeing for euer present before his Throne there giuing heauenly honour and prayse to our omnipotent God sitting in his glorious throne of maiestie and before the seat is a sea of glasse like throwgh shyning christall being the
of euerlasting life for he that confesseth the treuth of mée before men Reuâ— 3. I will confesse his name before God and the holy Angels and hee that denyeth the treuth of me I will denye him O therfore beware and bee not féeble mynded and dismaid at yonder tempest of persecution for why hath not Christe moste louingly tolde thée that such extreame dangers shall come to passe and sayeth to the feare none of thos e thinges but holde out to the end and thou shalt be saued and crowned with eternall glorie why then wilt yâ— yéeld wilt thou now be shaken down like a figge from his figge trée O man remember thy self consider whereto thou dooest fall what art thou so nyce of thy fleshe so tender of thy skyn Be not remoued from the Gospel so feruent to Wife and Children so geuen to worldly riches and delights so bent to promotions so hastie to please men so adict to this Worlde so foolishe and madde to run with the multitude so ready to yéelde to the persecutors as to forget the day of the Lord when thou shalt altogither tremble and quake and giue an account of thy dooings what I say to thée with heauie gréef wilt thou abide no perrils no torments no imprisonment no affliction no hunger nor shame no wearines no losse of goodes no departing from fré ends no losse of life for Christes Gospell then thou maist say wo is my vntrutefulnes Wherefore pray with all instance that God may strengthen thy faith and that thou maist be endued with patience against all tribulations and that you may be preserued from dogges from Locustes and vnreasonable men And nowe while the doore of the Gos pell is open stablishe your heartes in the euerlasting consolation of faith hope loue and patience in Christ Dan. 12. And suffer aduersitie with him and with his Gospell through the power of God who hath giuen you the gift of grace For it is written that the dayes shall come in which you shall bée purifyed cleansed and tryed as golde in the fire Wherfore holde fast the patience of his name in all stormes of persecutions by looking vp ioyfully to heauen when thou art in the handes of the persecuters Reu. 6. and fettered to the stake of torments then to beholde the golden altar and see there the soules of them vnder the hande of Christ which hath suffred before you in the testimonie of Iesus Christ whether now thy soule skipping ioyfully out of thy body as one loosed out of bondage and prison do goe accompanied with Gods holy angel to those blessed soules there meeting together with praising and magnifying God vnder the golden altar for blessed are those that suffer for righteousnes sake An acceptable sacrfice to GOD And therefore consider what an acceptable sacrifice thou shalt be to God when thou shalt breath forth the swéete odours of prayers through the flaming fire or tortures of death vp before the face of God by yéelding thy life for his cause so that bee assured that thy inward ioy shall quench eat vp the outward paines and torments of death for it is written the Angel of the Lord tarrieth round about them that feare God Psalme 3. and deliuereth theÌ„ therefore feare not death for the gospels sake but suffer with christ that you may be glorified with him and so be of the nomber of them to whoÌ„ he shal s ay Come ye blessed inherite the kingdom and be crowned with the glorious garland of your glorification and so to conclude Luke â—â— Reioyce that your names are written in heauen TO THE Reader LIft vp your heades Christ is at hande Hosanna in the highest Receiue the gifte the kingdome come from heauen which is most purest The Lord doth com him selfe from heauen who is the king of kinges Arise you dead and put you on your newe immortall winges At Sion he will shewe him selfe prepare you to be there Where crownes of life and palmes of ioy the chosen then shall weare Arise therefore receiue the gifte of Gods eternall light Imbrace the ioyes beholde the face of God in open sight The holye Citie gloriously in brightnesse which excel Descendeth downe from God aboue wherein the Saintes shall dwell The wicked then shall stande without an heauie wooe to see The Lord shall say Depart ye hence you shall not be with me Arise therefore as true right heires Of that most blessed lande Sing out Hosanna in the highest Christes kingdome is at hande F. K. A PRAYER OF THANKESGIVING TO GOD THAT IT MAY PLEASE HIM TO sanctifie vs with his holy grace that we may dwell in Newe Ierusalem with a petition for our Soueraigne Queene that it may please God that she may reigne ouer vs many yeeres and after this life be crowned with the heauenly clothing of glorification WE most heartily thanke thée O Lorde God our heauenly Father for thy manifolde and inestimable benefits which thou hast giuen vnto vs both for our soules bodies and that fréely of thine owne goodnesse without our desertes wee thaÌ„ke thée that it hath pleased thée of thy great mercie to create and make vs to thine owne Image and Likenesse and being lost through the sinne of our first father Adam thou vouchsafedst of thy endlesse pitie to s aue vs and redeeme vs againe by the death and passion of thy welbeloued Sonne Iesus Christ our sweete Mediatour and Aduocate whom we looke for to come againe at the day of iudgement as a most louing Lord and Sauiour to carry vs with him into euerlasting glorie there to remaine with him worlde without end Therefore graunt vs sweete Lord God the riches of thy grace that we may haue the fruition of thy ioyes in thy heauenly kingdome of euerlasting blessednes And we beseech thée O Lord Iesus Christ which art the health of al meÌ„ liuing the euerlasting life to theÌ„ that die in thy faith to preserue 〈◊〉 thy seruant our Queene Gouernes so with thy blessed hand to fé ede â—â—â—spéede 〈◊〉 lead 〈◊〉 kéepe 〈◊〉 vnder thy holy wings that she may euermore faste the sweetenesse of thy riche mercie and great loue to the praise of thy holy Name and glorie of the Gospel and also to his glorification in the eternall kingdome of glorie And we thy seruantes and children by grace being ordeined by thee to be her faithfull subiectes doe beseech thée of thy great goodnes so to increase her with thy blessings that we may enioye him swéete gouerneâ—â—e to reigne ouer this Realme manye yeeres more in peace and tranquillitie and after this life to partake the euerlasting glorie of Christ to whome be all glorie honour and praise worlde without ende Amen GOD SAVE the 〈◊〉