which grace going before the peace of hart will vndoubtedlie follow after arising from the sight of the generalitie and largenes of Gods promises Heb. 8.10 and the experience of Gods daylie mercies Psal 77. and knowledge of the mysterie of christ Iesus here extolled Ephe. 3.18 The last point of this mysterie or proofe of the excellencie thereof is that God hath been taken vp inglorie It was more than a miracle that the worme before spoken of should returne to life and that the second Ionas lying three daies three nights not aliue but quite dead in the belly of the earth did breake the yron bands of the graue and stand vpon the grounde yea in diuers places preach this Gospell to his disciples Luk. 24.13 after that he was risen againe from the dead Act. 1.9 But what was it then that his flesh should mount vppon the clowdes as it were vppon an horse Heb. 1.3 What was his entrance into the tabernacles not made with hands Psal 97.7 what was the Angels worshipping of him the fathers enstalling him in a throne at his right hand Certainlie the glorie of the resurrection of our Sauiour seemeth not to bee glorious in regarde of that exceeding glorie into which he is exalted by his ascention farre aboue all powers and principalities and all creatures whatsoeuer Now here wee may behold the sonne of GOD leading captiuitie captiue giuing giftes vnto men teaching vs as Eagles to mount aloft sitting by the father as the next person by whom he gouerneth the Churche prouiding and dressing as it were many Tabernacles for the elect and preparing a tribunall seate to returne to iudge the earth Wherefore as his ascending into heauen was exceeding glorious so his descending thence shall yet much more abound in glorie For then hee shall appeare vnto the eyes not of a few but of all flesh Rom 1.7 not in the contemptible shape of a base seruant but in the bright and dreadfull maiestie of the King and Iudge of the whole world Act. 1.11 At that great day the day of Doome or Iudgement knowne onely to GOD but which cannot be far of from men these writs to wit the Sun darkned Luk 21.25 Mat. 24.11 the moone bloudy the starres trembling the planets falling down shall goe abroad to summon the inhabitants of the earth vnto the court where in all causes shall be ended all confusion of this world shall bee corrected Then oh where shall the amazed people and chayned prisoners either fast their footing or hide their heads Luk. 24.16 2. Pet. 3.10 when tottering Heauens and trembling earth with toring sea arresting them before the Tribunal seate of the sonne of God the clowdie roabe of the reuenging Iudge shall terrifie the eyes both of mortall wightes and diuels 1. Thes 4.16 And will not the last Trumpet blowne with the blast not of a man but of that Archangel cause the eares of the creatures to tingle and burne when it shall sound a dolefull and fearefull alarum Yet againe much more dreadfull must needes bee the smokie fire 1. Thes 1.8 which as breathed out of the nostrels of the angrie Iudge shal cause the Elements to boyle the townes and Cities of the world to bee turned into ashes the faces and skinnes of men to be changed as into tinder Then then the graues Reu. 20.13 14 the waues the pittes yea hell it selfe also as the generall iay lours of the whole World shall bring foorth their dead and buried prisoners to receiue their finall doome at this solemne sessions Thus all sortes of people arrained at the barre and gathered by the Angels as by sericants or officers shall by them with their hands Mat. 13.49 and billes or swordes as it were be held and hemmed in on euery side Here now the scrowles of mens consciences as euidences Reu. 20. â—â— must needes bee vnfoulded the books spoken off in the Reuelation shall also be vnclasped and openlie read After that all mortall wights haue thus been gathered together then shall a separation bee made of them by the Iudge Mat. 10.32 by whom they shall bee deuided into two sorts Elect and reprobate and placed at his two sides the right hand the left After these things Christ first shall pronounce sentence on the chosen saying to them Mat. 25.34 Come ye blessed of my father possesse as heires the kingdome prepared for you before the foundations of the world were layd Then placing the Elect on thrones 1. Cor. 6 2. as benchers together with him to iudge the World he shall pronounce the sentence of condemnation on the reprobate saying to them Departe from mee yee cursed into euerlasting fire Mat. 25.41 which is prepared for the diuell and his Angels Thus shal al men for euer enioy their due reward the second life or the second death And Omortall men what do ye then meane so to loue the world as if it neuer should haue an end O vngodly wretches and enemies to all piety in these daies as prophane as Esan yea more prophane vngodly than hee or Herod euer was will ye needs fulfill the iniquitie of your fathers graund-fathers great graund-fathers Well then proceed to worship stockes and stones to heare Masses and to creepe to Crosses cease not to sweare dayly hourely continually falsly vainely proudly blasphemously as yee doo without controlement braue it sport it feast it loyter it or if yee will do something labour drudge run and ride on the Lords sabaoth as your manner is disdaine despise curse murmur and rebell against your magistrates teachers parents masters superiours imbâ—ue your hearts hands tongues and weapons in innocent bloud sparing neither bodies good names nor soules of old fathers men women little children bath your selues in daintines wantonnes idlenes drunkennes hunting hanking carding dicing and all kindes of pastime vnderpin your houses with the bones of your poore tenaunts neighbours brethren kinsfolke lay the foundations of them on their carcases hang theÌ„ about with theÌ„ir skinnes yea and with the skinnes of their wiues and children a goodly kinde of tapisterie plaister them with their entralles paint them with their bloud wash them euery day with their teares To conclude O crooked and peruerse generation trample vnder your feete the precious bloud of GOD manifested in the flesh iustified in the spirit seene of Angels preached vnto the Nations beleeued in the world receiued vp in glorie but knowe that for all these things hee shall come vnto iudgement Neuerthelesse as concerning those vnto whom the mysterie of godlines seemeth without doubte very great vnto whom Christ Iesus is the only treasure in the world who indeauour with vprightnes to obey his lawes and word there is no cause why they should quake to thinke on his returne to iudgement but rather great reason why they should pray come Lord Iesus Reu. 22.20 come quickly For seeing he hath shed his
execrable heresie of poperie These Enemies of the grace of GOD affirme and vaunt that the Church of Rome is the house of God and the pillar of trueth whereas rather it is indeede a denne of theeues and a sea of al impietie and diuelish apostacie or backsliding from the faith But as for the church of England it pleaseth them not and therefore they either come not at all to our assemblies because indeed they haue sworne obedience to the sinagogue of Antichrist or if anie resort now theÌ„ vnto our church it is for that the Machiuell in their head hath for the time gotten the vpper hand of the Pope in their belly They say they beleeue in Christ yea and in the holy Trinity but seeing they lay another foundation of saluation besides the sonne of God to wit the abominable idoll of the masse they cannot be the true worshippers of GOD yea they must needes be most vile idolaters They talke much of good workes but seeing thereby they professe to be saued as for the same deseruing the fauour of God and eternall life the very Publicans and sinners repenting and confessing their sinnes shal be taken vp into heauen when they with all their merits shall be cast into hel They worship a paltrie pope and fall downe daily before grauen images and idols in the meane season they make no conscience to rise vp in armes against Christian Princes and to hatch the egges of Asps against Gods people They call theÌ„selues Catholiques as if forsooth they were of the company of true beleeuers or the right worshippers of God but in trueth they are a generation of vipers which from time to time haue persecuted tormented and put to death the seruants of God and daily thirst after long to suck their bloud It is no maruell then if the fruites of Antichrist hate the assemblies of Christ Iesus or refuse to ioyne with vs in the word and the Sacraments but rather it is to bee wondered at that the worshippers of the true God detest not with a perfect hatred such malitious idolaters as those Papists are which wish for a day who haue attempted so many treasons and beare a false heart against their natiue countrey besides a bloudy rage against the Religion Now as there are such recusants as vtterly refusing to come to the assemblies wherein the mysterie of godlinesse is acknowledged and beleeued do dangerously keepe out the Arke and house of God marked with the bloud of the Lambe Christ Iesus so there are a great number of prophane professors who imagine themselues to be in the bosome of the Church when they are indeede in the very bottome of the wrath of God and who very seldome and sparingly resorting vnto the preaching of the word and the Sacraments amongst vs make as it were an open profession of vngodlines and impietie Whose heart would not rue to thinke vppon or beholde this kinde of people in whom raigneth an vntolerable neglect contempt of holy things These on the Sabaoth in the forenoone peraduenture will be at Church but in the afternoone at the alehouse Once in a tweluemonth as at Easter they wil come to the Communion but after the receauing of it it is their custome to runne into all excesse of riot gadding and madding after their pleasures and vanities They acknowledge Baptisme to be a Sacrament and bring their Children to Church to bee Baptized but when the Minister commeth to administer it to any infant they depart from the assembly no more accounting of this sacred seale of the new couenant than as of some common or prophane washing They wil not refuse to pray some times but they wil continually sweare and blaspheme They deny not altogether to heare Sermons or preaching of the word but they like better of gaming dising carding dancing fensing drincking and feasting than of that They doo not condemne the Gospell nor the exercises of Religion as reading the Word singing praier or such like But their onelie life is to be occupied rather in gossiping in prating and resorting vnto playes and places of all disorder Yet those are in their owne eyes and also in common account of the most the onelie or best professors of the word whose waies yet are so impious whose prophanenes so apparaÌ„t But let them take heede Heb. 10.24 so to conclude this point how they tread the soÌ„ne of GOD vnder foote and doo accompt the bloud of the couenant common whereby they are sanctified or be iniurious to the spirite of grace for we know him that hath saide Venegeance is mine and I will repaie it saieth the Lord. The second word here to be considered is the Article That shewing in this place that the mysterie spoken of hath in it some speciall dignitie Iohn 1.29 and excellencie Iohn thâ— Baptist pointing to our Sauiour vsed the same worde or Article to the same effect when he saide Beholdâ— That Lambe the same Euangelist Iohn also going about to put a difference betweene the Messias and other Iohn 1.8 calleth Christ that light As therefore the sun comming foorth like a bridegroom out of his chamber shineth more clearely than al the Starres in the firmament beside so euen among the other doctrines of the Scripture this excelleth wherein the glory of the Heauenly Bridegroome Christ Iesus is presented vnto our view Furthermore as a pearle far surpasseth pibble stones so this trueth all the precepts of philosophers all the sciences and artes set downe in bookes and studied by men Seeing then this mysterie is so peerles a pearle what wise christian marchant is there who would not sell his pleasures profits yea life and all to buie it Againe who is there so depriued of vnderstanding who once hauing gotten some sight of it or right in it would sell such a iewell for sinne for honour for gaine or for the whole world The counsaile then of Salomon touching this matter is alway to bee remembred by euery Christian Pro. 23.23 Buie the trueth but sell it not euen wisdome instruction and vnderstanding Now the trueth and wisdome which the wise King meaneth is that mystery here spoken of which Philosophie seeketh but diuinitie findeth and godlines possesseth Againe hereupon it followeth that there is a certaine dignitie and preheminence of the dispensers of the mysteries of the Gospell euen aboue the ministers of the law inasmuch as the mysterie of Christianitie hath in it such a special excellencie and prerogatiue For as our Apostle reasoneth elsewhere 2. Cor. 3.9 if the ministery of coÌ„demnatioÌ„ were glorious much more doth the ministerie of righteousnes exceede in glorie Our Sauiour also affirmeth in the Gospell Luc. 7.28 not onely that Iohn was more then a Prophet but that he which is least in the Kingdome of Heauen is greater than he For euen as a peece of an oken boord albeit little worth as of it selfe yet when it hath in the pâ—â—â—ure of the Prince most flourishingly and
himselfe in his epistle to the Philippians who saw no doubt into this mysterie as farre as any mortall man hee professeth that he had not yet attained this knowledge neither was perfited Phil 3.12 but that he did follow after the same to apprehend it The wise Agur also intreating of this matter not onely confesseth that hee had not learned this wisdome or knowledge of holie things but demaundeth the question Who hath ascended into Heauen Pro 30.1.2 c. and descended thence Who can gather the winde in his fist Who can binde the Waters in his garment Who can establish the borders of the earth What is the name of such a one and what is his sonnes name In the which words as it seemeth that great clarke or Prophet intendeth to shew not onely that none knoweth the father but the sonne and he to whom the sonne will reueale him but that none perfectlie knoweth either of thē both as may appeare in that he saieth there is not any which can measure or rule these great creatures or elements namely the earth the waters and the ayre in that he asketh what the name of the Father and of the Sonne is Seeing now the mistery of the gospel is so great yea in alrespects so excellēt it behoueth the dispēsers therof with great care conscience to execute that holy ministery whervnto they are set apart For how els shall they bee able to answer in any respect vnto that honorable functiō whereunto they are called Yea how can they but staine and pollute the peerlesse pearle committed to their trust to keepe and carrie It behooueth them therefore first of all as wise builders 1. Cor. 3.10 chiefelie and especially to lay the foundatiō Christ Iesus and to declare vnto their people the articles of faith which are the maine and principall pillers as it were of the spirituall building Secondly as the foundation is noble so vpon the same not the wood hay or straw of Rhetoricall Philosophicall or humaine skill or eloquence but the golde siluer and precious stones of a simple graue and spirituall maner of teaching is to be laid Thirdly the affection iudgement of the interpreter of the word ought alwaies so to be sanctified vpright as that in as much as hee dealeth with the Lords oracles he mangle not nor wryth or wrest the Scripture 1. Tim. 2.15 but cut it aright as the priests vnder the law did the things which were offered and sacrificed To conclude seeing an euill ende dooth make the best actions that may be abominable if the Gospell be taught of enuie of vaine glory of flattery Phil. 1.15 or misapplied by such sinister intents or purposes then it is not handled according to the nature or dignitie of so heauenly a doctrine but abused and polluted by mans corruption Likewise as the teachers of the Gospell ought by so much the more faithfully and watchfully deale in the Lords oracles by how much the mysterie of Christian Religion excelleth the pollicie of the Iewes so the hearers of the doctrine of christ Iesus ought by so much the more attentiuely hearken vnto Heb. 2.1 and reuerently receiue the message of their Ministers by how much greater grace is offered vnto them now than was in olde time to the Israelites For if euery transgression and breach of the Law receiued a iust recompence of rewarde how shall they then escape if they neglect so great saluation as is offered in the Gospell They are therefore to know that they are not to heare such as teach any false Christs or denie the foundation of Christian Religion either expressely or by consequence For they are not so much as to goe out vnto them they are not to bid them God speed not to receiue them to house 2 Ioh. 1.10 neither yet to thinke them otherwise than accursed Gal. 8 Secondly they are to heare all those who truely teach Christ Iesus crucified without preferring of persons for outward respects or holding on Paul Cephas or Apollos But especially they are to heare 1. Cor. 3.12 reuerence and ordinarilie to resort vnto those ordinary sufficiēt preachers which the Lord in his prouidence hath placed ouer them Obey saieth the Apostle to the Hebrewes your guides Heb. 13.7 and submit your selues vnto them for they watch for your soules that they may doo this with ioy and not with sorrowe for that is vnprofitable for you But how doo they obey their ordinarie watchfull teachers who do not so much as vse to heare them scant once in a month nay in a twelue moneth We beseech you bretheren saieth Paul to the Thessalonians acknowledge those who trauellamong you 1. Thes 5.12 rule ouer you in the Lord and admonish you and esteeme them more than most exceedinglie as deare vnto you for their work sake Let therfore all so account of their ordinary teachers as Paul aduised the Thessalonians to esteeme those Pastors or Preachers which laboured among them and as the Philippians stood affected toward Epaphroditus their peculiar shepheard whome the Apostle made hast to send back vnto them that they at the very sight of him might reioyce For what Is the Minister bound trowe we Phil. 2.28 and commanded by God ordinarily to teach and to expound the word and is the hearer priuiledged from resorting vnto his sermons diligently Heb. 10.25 and ioyning with him in publique praiers Shall the bloud of the flock be required at the shepheards hands if he bee dumbe or slothfull and hangeth there no woe ouer the head of the sheepe Ezech. 33.9 if they stray out of the folde or refuse to heare the voyce of their shepheard Dooth the louing Wife preferre her Husband in loue before all other how beautifull soeuer Dooth the souldiour waite vpon his Captaine although other in the host be stronger than he Dooth the seruant attend on his Master albeit others are more honorable Finally doth the Child keepe in and like best of his fathers house notwithstanding that there be many which keepe better tables And wil not Christians like best of their ordinarie teachers and cleaue vnto their peculiar and alotted Ministers albeit they perceiue in them some wants or infirmities or see greater graces or giftes shine in the candles or starres of other Churches But moreouer it is not sufficient for a professor of the Gospell to heare vsuallie his true and faithfull shepheard and to proceede no further but he must take heede also what hee heareth as our Sauiour exhorteth Col. 3.16 Yea and after what manner he heareth both him and other hee must heare the Word not foolishlie but wisely applying euerie good Doctrine and exhortation to himselfe not careleslie 1. Thes 2 13 bu◠reuerentie as the Worde of GOD and not of man not senseleslie but with feeling taking a delight therein 2. Cor 7.7 8 9 10 11. and following with affection euerie tune thereof Finally not doubtingly but
did cast abroad the indignation of his wrath vppon his enemies and infinitly surpassing Sampson in strength ouercame the gates of hell hee became that iust one which iustifieth many and that perfect redeemer who hauing been a faithful mediator on earth raigneth now as a glorious high Priest Heb. 1.3 king and Prophet in Heauen as exalted for these iniuries done vnto him and iustified also by the glory bestowed on him The third poynt of this mysterie is that God manifested in the flesh and iustified in the Spirit hath been also seene of Angels It appeareth by the sacred storie that euen the damned Angels or vncleane spirits saw the sonne of God manifested in the flesh Mat. 4.1 For we reade that not only satan their head tempted him in the wildernes but that a whole legion of foule feends acknowledged him to be the sonne of God Luk. 8.28 and iudge of the World Wherefore euen the euill Angels sawe Iesus our Lord as the seede of the Woman who should breake the head of the Serpent as a Champion to wrestle or incounter with them last of all as a conquerour by his power and strength to ouercome them But either only or chiefely Saint Paul meaneth here that the Elect Angels saw Christ as visible GOD or as both GOD and man These heauenly spirites from the very beginning of their creation enioyed in deede the presence of the second person in the Trinitie Esa 6 3. yea and they worshipped him as their GOD and King neuerthelesse they wanted the visible spectacle of the glorie here spoken of vntill the time of the Lords incarnation and manifestation to the World and iustification by the Spirit But when once the Father brought his first begotten into the World and presented him in the flesh as a mirrour of all wisdome mercie iustice and perfect excellencie then the Angels in the sonne whose person godhead from the beginning of their creation they beheld continuallie saw that humaine nature and glory Ephe. 3.10 which before was neuer subiect vnto their view Heb. 1.6 For they saw now the inuisible word to become visible God they perceiued also the world to be made subiect not vnto them but vnto man Heb. 2.5 6 7 8 9. euen the mediator between God and man that second Adam Iesus Christ After this manner at the last in fulnes of time the sonne of God being presented vnto the view of the Elect Angels they saw him as their ioye as may appeare in that they sang at his birth Luk. 2.13 they saw him as their Lord vppon whom they ascended Ioh. 1.25 descended they saw him as the head of the bodie of the Church Heb. 1.14 whose members they serue last of all they saw him as the mercy seate toward which they turne their faces continuallie Exo. 25.17 18. And who is there now which remembring that solemne day of Christ his incarnation beholding the Pageant as I may say of his humaine nature whereat the very Angels gaze and assemble to conclude considering the progresse as it were of the Lord from Heauen to earth together with his returne from earth to Heauen where the Angels continually behold his face and now enioy his bodily presence would not skip for ioy with Iohn the Baptist crie out with Elizabeth inlarge his tongue with Zacharie magnifie the Lord with the Virgin Marie desire to bee dissolued with Simeon and prouoke not onelie his owne soule but the Angels to praise GOD with Dauid for presenting such a spectacle to the view of his creatures and reuealing his sonne both vnto men and spirites When as the common people of any countrey or kingdome first vnderstanding the kings intēt to make some progresse or to solace and shew himself abroad afterward vpon this occasion resort or flock to the place where hee passeth by or may best be seen there doo see his Maiesties face or heare him vtter a few words herein they thinke a great part of their happines to consist and hereof they boast full oft one to another not without iust cause For certainely the very countenance and presence of the gracious soueraigne carieth with it the Maiestie of God himselfe the honour of an Angell the glorie of the sunne the comelines of the moone the brightnes of a Start the blessing of the dew the fruit of a tree of life and to speake in one Word the price of a peerlesse pearle Now thē when as the immortall king the ruler of all princes presented himselfe to the view of shepheards wise mē Galileans inhabitants of Ierusalem diuers other of his meaner sorte of subiects albeit they saw his face but for a little time or heard his words but for a short season this was a iust cause to them of singular comfort and a great signe of his fauour yea as a day or time of high solemnitie But doth not then the magnificence of the Lord on the one side and the happines of the Angels on the other much more appeare herein that since they as peeres of the heauēly kingdom were first assēbled drawn vnto their prince Christ Iesus putting on him the nature of man and comming into the world they haue not ceased to beholde and enioy his corporall presence and now sitting as it were in court or Parliament with him continuallie see his royaltie and heare him speake such speeches as no eare of man hath heard nor heart can conceiue Yes happie sure are all Christians which are subiects to Christ Iesus see him by the eye of faith though not of the body more happie are the Angels which stand euer before him and heare his wisdome Most blessed bee the Lorde God the father which so loued his sonne as to set him one the throne of Israel because the Lord loued Israel for euer and made him king to doo equitie and righteousnes From this loue of GOD it hath proceeded also that Christ Iesus hath beene preached among the Nations The Angels of whome wee sake a little before were not onely beholders of Christ Iesus but Heralds who blazed abroad his armes and proclaymed the mysteries of his conception birth resurrection and ascention Next after Iohn the baptist the Lord himselfe the Angels succeeded the Apostles and seuentie disciples who all were immediately called by our sauiour himself to preach the word to work miracles Luk. 9.1 Luk. 10.1 were sent not to one place or congregation onely but the 12. Apostles to many natiōs the 70. disciples to many cities as our sauiours commaundement and their practise testifieth After these seuentie and besides the twelue Apostles the Lorde extraordinarilie raysed vp and added in mercy to the forenamed labourers in his haruest Euangelists and these againe were of two sorts for some of them penned stories of the gospell Act. 21.8 1 Tim. 4.5 Act. 11.28 as Luke and Marke some onely published the gospell by preaching as Timothie and Phillip At