souereigne Kings Quéenes yée swéet Lordes and Ladies yee loouing Fathers and mothers yée wise Maisters mistresses yee obedient sonnes and daughters yée diligent and dutiefull seruants and maides reioyce and be glad and behold your king and precious Sauiour Christe ryding into Ierusalem lowly and humbly and now aryse and lyft vp your eyes of repentance to heauen and reioyce and beholde how hée is ready to come in all glory and maiestie with all the powers of heauen to crowne you with glorious and heauenly glorification Therfore cast of from your hartes the euill mantell of pryde disdaine arrogancie haughtines vnmercifulnes frowardnes sinne and vnrighteousnes and put on the mantel of Christes humblenes lowlynes mercifullnes goodnes holynes and righteousnes that you may mé ete Christe with ioy and receiue the incorruptible crowne of eternall glorie for thus saithe the Lord I will set his dominion in the sea and his right hand in the floodes he shall call mee Psalme 89. thou art my Father my God and my strong saluation and I will make him my first borne higher then the Kings of the earth Esay 55. my mercy will I keepe for him for euermore and my couenance shall stand fast with him his seede also will I make to indure for euer and his throne as the dayes of heauen of whome hée sayeth My seruaunt whome I will giue for a witnesse Esay 52. prince and captaine to the people will I keepe to my selfe hee is myne elect in whome my soule is pacified I will giue him my spirit that hee may shewe foorth iudgement and equitie among the Gentiles hee shall not be an outcryer nor high mynded his voice shall not bee heard in the streates a brused â—eede shall hee not breake and the s moking flackes shall hee not quench but faithfully and truely shall hee giue iudgement hee shall neither bee ouer seene nor hastie that hee may restore righteousnes to the earth for I the Lord hath called the in righteousnes and do lead the by thee hand therfore will I also defend and giue thee for a couenaÌ„t of the people and to be the light of the Gentiles that thou mayest open the eyes of the blynde let out the prisoders and them that fit in darknes out of the doungeon house In this the Prophet foretelling that Christe shoulde come in the fleshe death shewe that by his meanes only wée shall bee brought to an attonment and peace with GOD the Father expressing the perfectionn of looue and pleasure which GOD the Father hath in his sonne Christe béeing one selfe same nature in another according to Mathew Math. 3.17 This is that belooued Sonne in whome is my delight and according to the saying of the Prophet Dauid in the second Psalme Thou art my sonne this day haue I begotten thée and héerin wé e learne that if Christe is so béeloued of God béeing God according to the fortie nine Psalme the Father of heauen saith to his sonne God Thy seat shall be for euer and euer then how muche are wée bound to looue so beloued a God and Sauiour to vs giuing him all the praise honor and thankes euermore lyfting vp pure hands for so great treasures of vertue and goodnes for his cléernes of trouth and iudgement for the light and brightnes of his moste holy and blessed doctrine for his aboundant swéetnes of his excéeding and bountiful loone toward vs moste miserable sinners in that hée of his meere mercie and goodnes hath broughte vnto vs redemption and delyuerance out of the bondage of sathan sinne and death calling vs to holynesse of lyfe thereby by imitating him to be made by righteousnesse the sonnes of God and pertakers of the euerlasting kingdome And further the Lord saith My seruant shall deale wis ely therfore shall he be magnified exalted and greatly honored like as the multitude shall meruaile at him because his couÌ„tenaÌ„ce shal be so deformed and hard fauoured aboue the sonnes of men yea he shall haue neither beautie nor fauour wheÌ„ we look vpoÌ„ him there shal be no fairnes in him we shall haue no lust vnto him hee shall be the most simple and dispised of all which yet hath good experience in sorrowes and in firmities but wee shall reckon him so vile and base that we shall not regard him how be it of a trueth hee only takes away our infirmitees Whervpon consider according to Paule that Christ dooth make him self of no reputation and taketh vpon him the shape of a seruant and became lyke vnto man and was found in his apparell as a man and that he abasing him self in respect of all worldly wisdome was of the wis e according to the wisdome of this world dispised scoffed and s corned at hée béeing him self verry wisdome it self and the fountaine therof and he being beautie it self and the Author of all beautie and fairnes woulde shewe him selfe without beautie and fauour to condemne the vanitie of fleshly beautfe and extoll the excellencie and woorthines of the spirituall and heauenly beautie of the soule wherfore O yée Children and Daughters of men yee are become so nyce so arogant and coy because of your faces and so proude of your beauties Come from your vaine looking glasses The contempt of fleshly beautie and beholde héer I offer vnto you the bright shyning glasse of all excellencie euin Christe your King and Sauiour the Author and Giuer of all beauties and godlynesse to beholde him béeing without fauoure and fairnesse beeing lowely mé eke and most humble being simple and not gorgeous how hee condemned and dispised your vaine fleshly pleasure and gaynes euen in the cleere example of his owne person giuing you himselfe for a rule that you reioice not in apparell nor vainely conceaue of your vaine flesh and outward comlines of nature but onely in the beautie of your soules by adorning and decking your inward man with all spirituall rayments of holines and precious ornaments of righteousnes which will neuer decay whereas the flesh and all that pertaine to his furniture is as S. Peter saith as grasse and all the glorie of man is as the flower of grasse Pet. 1.1 the grasse therof withereth and the flower fadeth away but the word of God endureth for euer Moreouer the prophet saith that we shall dispise him and yet he beareth our paine Esay 53. and we shall so contemtuously thinke of him as that we shall iudge him as though he were plagned and cast downe of God wheras he notwiths tanding shal be wounded for our offences and smitten for our wickednes for the paine of our punishment shall bee laid vpon him and with his stripes shall we be healed hee shall be pained and troubled and shall not open his mouth he shall be led as a sheepe to be slaine The prophesie of Christes death yet shall he be as stil as a lambe before the shearers and not open his mouth he s hall be had away his cause not
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
euery parte doeth the selfe same thing as the Spirite and Lambe doeth leade them Coloss 1. hauing the preheminence so that for euermore they remaine glorified with euerlas ting life peace vnitie and puritie of all perfection and brightnesse in the sight of the Almightie for all thinges with them are Symbolicall to Gods Maiestie That as Iesus Christ our Lorde and Redéemer is the Sonne of God begotten of God God of God and God in God that their insearchable nature is such that they are both one in it selfe And the Holy Ghost from them proceeding beeing the euerlasting Spirite of the euerlasting Father and Sonne being of inseparable nature all together in it selfe so that being three persons in Trinitie yet is it one euerlasting vnitie for in them is one Communion of Godhead that the fulnesse of the Godhead dwelleth in the three persons Almightie both bodely and Substantially And nowe as this euerlasting power and Godhead is coadvnited a perfect Trinitie in Vnitie and Vnitie in Trinitie So we of God to God and in God are adopted Saintes of holinesse by Iesus Christ our Sauiour the eternall worde sonne of God by whome we are made in most excellent true resemblance of Godly nature partakers of Gods glorie and purenesse Phil. 3. being ordeined of God to bee fashioned like the Sonne of God Ephe. 1. That what perfect coniunction of Godhead is betweene the trinitie and the vnitie The like heauenly harmonie by adoption shall be for euer of the Saintes of newe Ierusalem adopted true sonnes of God by the Sonne of God so fashioned like to his glorious bodie Phil. 3. So that as the euerlasting seate of Gods maiestie his eternal and incomprehensible place of power doth euer remaine with the Godhead as an eternall brightnes of the most holyest seate of all holinesse that where the Godhead is there is the s hining of his incomprehensible seate of brightnesse as a place eternall and incomprehensible agréeing to an Almightie and incomprehensible god and so an Almightie God with an incomprehensible place of glorie as one in a seate euerlasting vnsearcheable and vnmeasurable of all omnipotent Maiestie being an eternall creator and maker of a vniuersal seate of glorie neuer departing from the same as an immutable God in an immutable vniuersall and incomprehensible seate of honour and power So the Saintes and blessed elect haue a new mansion and glorious Citie descended from god in which they abide a kingly Priesthoode for euer And they shall neuer goe out of it but shall sit therein with Christ the Sonne of God being his seate of glorie giuen of the Father Reuel 3. where the elect shall s it with the Sonne of God in his kingdome as the Sonne did sit in his fathers seate of incomprehensible Maiestie And nowe such is the heauenly s ympathie and consembable resemblance of our heauenly mansion or newe Ierus alem answering to the incomprehensible seate of the glorie of the eternall maiestie That as the incomprehensible seate of glorie is euer with God so our new Ierusalem is euer with the saints being an euerlasting and heauenly clothing Cor. 2.5 with which the elect are euermore clothed That where the first begotten Sonne of God and by him the adopted sonnes of God doe go mooue or alleuate them selues towarde the omnipotent God in like sort doeth the eternal tabernacle or seat as a glorious clothing or euerlasting garmēt with a glorified body continuing inseperably for euer And thus wée are conioyned as one harmonie and perfect consent of many vnited in one cōmunion with Gods holines so glorified in the Author and Father of glorie clothed with the substanciall pertakeing of his goodly seat of glory according to Esay I will make a new Ierusalem saith the Lord that shall be glorious through all posterities Esay 4. ◠Peace shall be the ruler and Righteousnes the officer the walles shal be called helth and the gates the prayse of God and God shall bee thy euerlasting light and thy God shall bee thy glorie And she shall be a crowne in the hand of the Lord and a glorious garland in the hand of her God and shall be called a new name the pleasure of God in her and God loueth her and god shall marry him self to her sonnes and as a brydegrome glad of his bryde so god of her Wherby appeare the infinit loue of God to his saincts and of them to God the inseperable coniunction of the glorie of God to new Ierusalem and to her sonnes and the reciprocate coniunction and euerlasting confirmation of them to him in substantiall glorification so that wee shall be in misterie as one pure vnspotted people sanctified in the participiation of the holynes of God being a multitude and yet one heauenly body vnited to one only holy and omnipotent God and thus the Saincts shall be ioyful with glorie behoulding the moste resplendent beautie of God ouer their heads lifting to him with one consent of heauenly melodie all prayse and honor euerlastingly Otherfore yée heauenly Congregation of sainctes sing prayses night and day to your God of glorie that you may dwell before God for euer And thus it is infinit to expresse and moste ioyfull to beholde the admirable treasures and riches layd vp for vs in Christ to come and it is excéeding gladsome to thinke what a plenteous costly pleas ant and glorious feast the Lord hath prepared by Christe for vs And let it reioyce you to the ground of your harts to consider how the Lord shall deck you lyke Bridegromes with the garments of heauenly helth and high blessednes and let your soules leap within you and daunce for ioy to think how you shall be decked with the garmēts of Gods beautie and be you mery in righteousnes and run cheerfully to godlynes of life that you may pertake with this euerlasting happines of new Ierusalem the glorie wherof is so excéeding that the high amplitude thereof cannot be expressed vnto which the spirit of God sayeth to thée come and your bryde her selfe euen Ierusalē saith come Therfore so run the race of your lyfe that thou maiest go into her and taste her water of lyfe there beholding the maiestie of GOD with all abundant ioyfulnes and so remaining in euerlasting glorification with Christ for euer and euer * ⎠* ALleluia saluation and glory and honour and power and might Reu. 19. bee as crybed to the Lord our God for true and righteous are his iudgementes therefore prayse the Lord God all yee that are his seruants and ye that feare him both small and great for the Lord our God omnipotent reigneth so that let vs reioyce and be glad and giue honour to him for the mariage of the Lamb is come and his wife made her self ready and to her was graūted that shee should be arrayed with pure and goodly raynes and the raines be the righteousnes of Saincts and now happie are they which are
his children to be thy brethren Therfore learne looue pacience and mercy by Christe that in whatsoeuer estate you be to bee therewith contented holding fast the faith and patience of Christe Phil. 4. béeing assuredlye perswaded that the ready and compendious way to come vnto Gods fauour is to looue and imbrace Christe and his woord with a pure and faithfull hart and to loue one an other for if we loue one an other sayeth Iohn God dwelleth in vs and his looue is perfect in vs Iohn 14. for he that loueth God mu st loue his brother also though he be an enemie for sayeth Christe looue your enemies blysse them that cursse you doo good to thē that hate you Math. 5. and in so dooing we shall follow the example of our sauiour Christe and be Gods Children in conuersation of holynes and goodnes And thus Christe the Author and finisher of our redemption hauing performed his Fathers will by preaching first him selfe the Commaundements of his Father and by diuers signes wounders and miraclrs done according to his will to confirme the power of his Father Heb. 5. did in his fleshe offer vp prayers and supplications with strong crying and teares vnto him that was able to saue him from death and was also heard because of his godlynes and now vpon the Crosse yéelded vp his soule into the hands of his Father who reysed him from death and he is ascended vp to heauen and is set on the right hand of the Maiestie of the Father according to the saying of the Prophet The Lord sayd vnto my Lord sit on my right hand till I make thy enemies thy footestoole Wherby conceiue how Christe béeing promysed afore by God and his holy Prophets in the holy Scriptures to come of the seede of Abraham as perteining to the fleshe Psalme 19◠and declared to be the sonne of God with power of the holy Ghoste that sanctifieth was borne of the Virgin Mary by the imbracing of the holy Ghos te the holy Virgin being eternally appointed to this great mistery to be the Mother of Iesus for the inuisible power of the Godhed did ouer s hadowe the whole body and mynde of the most holy Virgin without any hurt or detriment of her chastitie so that the worke of his conception was not of man but of the holy Ghoste by the in comprihensble power of insperation for saieth the Lord by Esay Esay 7 Beholde a Virgin shal be with chylde and shall bring foorth a sonne and they shall call his name Emanuel God with vs and so the Angell sayd to Ioseph that which is conceiued in her is of the holy Ghoste shee shall bring foorth a sonne and thou shalt call his name Iesus Math. 1. for hee shall saue his people from their sinnes hee shall be great called the sonne of the highest and sonne of God and the Lord shall giue vnto him the seat of his father Dauid and hee shall reigne ouer the house of Iacob for euer and of his kingdome shall be no end Luk. 1. euen as hee promised to our fathers Abraham and his seede for euer So that wée haue such an Aduocate with the Father Iesus Christe the mercifull as hath put down through his death and passion the deuill that hath the Lordship ouer death and hath s poyled rule and power and triumphs ouer them in his owne person and hath nayled the cursse of the law to his crosse and hath caryed captiuitie captiue vp to heauen beeing their set down on the right hand of God Colloss 2. being able to saue them that come to God by him séeing he euer lyueth to make intercessiō for vs Heb. 7. who with one offering made perfect for euer thē that are sanctified Heb. 10. Wherfore wee may clearely as by the light of the Sun beames sée conceiue that they doe lay another foundation then the Apostle Paul dooth héere lay that teache the people to vse any other Aduocat or intercessor then Chist or to vse intercessors to Christe which euermore is him self an intercessor for vs whōe we know apparently by euident scriptures that he liueth and is with God in glory their making intercession for vs able to doe it by power of his victory and because he euer liueth and was ordayned to that eternall misterie for it is written that the whole kingdome doe lye on his shoulders the paines of our sins rest vpon his woundes and stripes and our whole redemptiō is only by him so that it repugneth against Christes glory who is crowned with glory and honour for suffering death for vs to offer intercession and meditation to Saincts to pray to Ladies and Churrh-roodes and to wāder a pilgrimage to offer to picturde images of Sainctes which is strong delusion and horrible abhomination and verry stubble and straws of a strauge foundation of erronious doctrin perniciously sowen amōg the people which the Lord in one day shall consume with fire And besides séeing wée are made perfect with one only offering made by Christe him selfe through the spirit that sanctifieth Heb. 10. then consider from what foundatiō those vain erronious masses doe come and be not deceiued with thē for Christe hath once offered him selfe a sufficient sacrifice for vs the iust for the vniust for to bring vs to God whose blood clenseth vs from all sinne for Christe hath deliuered vs from the cursse of the law and was made accursed for vs that the blessing of Abraham might come vppon the Gentles Gal. ◠Therfore let vs be thankfull and pray only vnto God by Christe and vse no other intercessors of our owne conceites imagined Pet. 13. but let vs consider how much God setteth out vnto vs his aboundant looue that while wée were enemies sinners his only begotten sonne Iesus should dye for vs being killed as perteining to the fleshe quickned in the spirit who thus suffered for vs to reconcile vs to God and yet did no sinne neither was there guyle found in his mouth who when hée was reuiled Pet ◠reuiled not againe when hée suffered hée threatned not but patiently cōmitted and delyuered the only cause vnto him that iudgeth righteously and thus his owne self bare our sinnes in his body on the trée that wée should bee delyuered from s inne and lyue in righteousnes Esay 53. for whosoeuer dooth truely and purely looue Christe and imbrace the faithe of his Gos pell can not but doo the woorkes of righteousnes and obedyence lyke to righteous Abraham otherwise perswade thy conscience and be not deceiued in thy conceit but that thy looue to Christe is colde faint and brickle if thou hast imbraced the knowledge and faith of the Gospell and yet doost not the woorkes of righteousnes and holynes for then thou art yet carnall and not spirituall hauing not yet crucified the olde Adam wherfore consider that by grace wée are made safe through faith and that not
honor the Father that who soeuer heareth Christes woâ—des and beléeue on him that sent him Ihon. 5. hath euerlasting lyfe and shall not come to damnation but is scaped from death vnto lyfe for he only hath the keyes of hell and death and shall iudge the quick Reue. 1. and the dead at the appearing of his kingdome were all shall be brought before the iudgement seat of Christe Tim. 2.4 and euerie one giue accountes of him self to God for the time is come that iudgement must begin at the house of the Lord consider therefore what kynde of people we ought to bée in conuersatioÌ„ of lyfe Pet. 14. séeing the righteous iudgement of God shall be opened which will reward euery man with prayse honor and immortalitie that hath cuÌ„tinued in good dooing Rom. 2. and vnto them which hath béen sinfull disobeying the trenth following iniquitie shall come indignation and wrath tribulation and anguish vpon the soule of euerie man that doe euill for there is no parcialitie with God but dooth iudge without respect of persons according to euerie mans woorkes as shall appeir at the great day of the Lord when God shall iudge the secretes of men by Iesus Christe according to the Gospell when we must appeir â—e before his glorious and shining maiestie that euery man may reape according as he hath sowen Heb. 4. whereuppon wée are moste carefully to looke into our owne selues knowing that our soules shall be wayes vpon the ballance by that moste true and righteous Iudge whose eyes are as a flame of fire that sercheth out the ground of our hartes and knoweth the seceret mouings of our myndes iudgeth all the thoughts and intentes of man to whome all things are naked bare neither is there any creature inuisible in the sight of him who will not fayle to to recompence euery man according to his wayes and according to the frutes of his counsels and imaginations Now then that this generall cytation of our infallible apperaÌ„ce before that Court regall which God will holde with all fleshe is so apparent wée should perswade that the knoweledge héerof is moste forcible to strike into our hartes a trembling feare and dread of our Lord God who is a consuming fire to all that doe continue in wickednes so that it behoueth vs not to make lighte accompte of so great and fearfull a matter and it standeth vs vppon not to bee necligente and carelesse of the order and maner of our liues séeing it toucheth our Soules so neare the quicke as that by the conuersation of lyfe in this world the marke and garland is so set before vs that if wee run the race of this life Math. 2.5 like to the fiue good Virgines hauing prepared in our selues in the grace of Christ that lamps of righteousnes sanctifying the Lord God in our harts by good conuersation in Christe then wee shall accompanye Christe or bridegroome in the great day of his comming shall go in with him to the wedding and to the inioying of our new heauenly Ierusalem which is to coÌ„e down froÌ„ God from heauen preparhd as a Bryde for her husband Roue 19. béeing rayes with the goodly raines of the righteousnes of Saincts for the mariage of the vndefiled Lamb and for the glorious companie of the holy elect who then are happie that they are called vnto the lambes supper ther crowned with the garland of glorification Otherwise if wee run the race of this lyfe like the fiue foolish Virgines not respecting the rule of righteousnes nor imbracing the Oyle of gladnes brought to vs by Christes Gospell but wallowing in wickednes and so seek after our fleshly lusts warldly vanities then we must be shut out from this heuinlie wedding and throwen down from the face of God from his Sanctes into that dreadfull darcknes where all are wrapt in sorrow wot made the dampned children of cursed sâ—â—haÌ„ Phil. 2. for which cause we ought to watch pray knowing not what day or hours the sonne of man shall come therfore we ought to watch pray woorking out our salâ—â—â—â—â—◠〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—es t that our misdéeds seperate vs from our God and our sinnes hide his face for â—â—er from vs. Wherfore ye Prachers cry out the voice of heauines the lamenting cryes of dolefulnes which shall come vnto the wicked lyuers vnlesse they repent and yée Preachers sound out the voice of ioy of mirth and gladnes that shall come vnto the godly people and thou hart faint not and thou hand slack not to vtter foorth and wriâ—â— how the gates of heauen staÌ„d open night and day for penitent sinners for the faithfull godly and righteous people to receiue them into blessednes and shewe thy self a watchman to awake with this voice all the people round about out of the sléeping bed of sinne blowing into the eares of deafe sinners wretched worldlings fleshly lyuers vicious walkers and wicked dooers how hell gates doe gape very wide â—n moste dreadfull maner to swallowe vp vngodly and wicked men Num. 16. O how did the Isralites tremble and quake when they did se the earth open and s wallow vp Corath Leui. 10. Dathan and Abyron with all that they had that they went down quick to hel O how did the Isralites tremble and shake when a consuming fire came out from the Lord and cons umed Nadab and Abihu the sonnes of Aaron Num. 11. then come hither yée Inhabiters of the earth and behold with gushing teares with sorrow and terrour with sobbes and sighes the day of vengeance with much more terrour of the gates of hell gaping and gas ping in most hydious monsterous and horrible manner to swallow by 〈◊〉 diffent 〈◊〉 and again con sider how the Isralites did saâ—â—â—â—or â—â—are when â—â—â—re of the Lord did burne among them and consumed the vtter mo ste of the hoast Exo. 19. Deut. 4. and how againe they shaked for dread when the Lord came down vpon mount Sinay with tempest sound of the trump speaking out of fire baâ—nnow come hither all ye people of the Lord beholde the day of the Lord for he coÌ„meth to take vengeance reward yea he coÌ„meth him self lyke a goldsmiths are 〈◊〉 the heauens shall perish the elemeÌ„ts melt the earth all the 〈◊〉 withâ—â—â—â—â—e according to Paule who saith that Thess 2. â— Hee shall come with his mightie Aungels in flaming fire rendring vengeance vnto them that know not God and to them that obey not the gospell of our Lord Iesus Christ which shall be punished with euerlasting damnation from the presence of the Lord and from the glorie of his power when he shall come to be glorified in his saintes and made maruelous in all them that beleeue therefore harken vnto this voice with sorrow of thy sinnes and remember this day with trembling and repenting knowing how miserable those sinners were that continued in wickednes and
lo st 〈◊〉 â—ight the starres of heauen did fall and the 〈◊〉 â—oor the your spirits â—ring but your 〈◊〉 men and come â—oorth you Astrologers and cast your figures looke to the houses of heauens toâ—â—ther the detriments and degrées of the planets and starres what are you now confounded then beholde saith the Prophet the Lord will destroy the tokeÌ„s of witches and make the southsayers go wrong Esay 44. make the cunning of the wise foolishnes bring the councell of the Magitioners to nought for sayeth the Lord I will destroy the wisdome of their wife and the vnderstanding of their lerned shall perish so that now ye fall to the ground quaking to se the signe of the sonne of man appearing to se the day of fire that is come to trye euery mans woork whereat O how yee lament and cry but what for your spirits and familiars which made you to bee counted cunning men whiche promised you dreames and shewed you vi sions which serued your pleasure to vex men and to bewitche with O beholde sayeth Christ many shall say vnto me in that day Lord Lord Math 7. haue we not in thy name prophisied and in thy name haue cast out deuils in thy name haue done many myracles but sayeth the Lord I will knoweledge to them that I neuer knew theÌ„ depart from me ye workers of iniquitie And now yée Idolaters false woorshpers and Apocrites sée how you doe nothing but wé epe what for your pictures your cerimonies your offerings your golden Ladies your wooden saincts for wante of your masses to eas e you or of bulles frome Roome to pardon preserue you this day beholde saieth Esay they are the strawe and you are the fire you shall burne and neuer be quenched Esay 33. yea all that you haue thus conceiued is stubble strawe and your spirit shal be the fire that it shall consume you and shal be burnt like lime thornes for now confouÌ„ded shal be all woork maisters of errors and shal be turned to fire and smoke and shall burne for euer with that great beast and false prophet which shal be cast into a ponde of burning brimstone Esay 45. Esay 65. Therfore let s uddain fearfulnes run through you to consider the terror and vengeance of this heauie and ferefull day of bitter wrath and indignation and who shall be able to indure it wherfore away with all vanities and so runne your race of lyfe that you may finde mercy at the great day of the Lord so that cleanse your consciences from sinne filthines and buy the milke of heauenly nurishment the wine of heauenly gladnes hope and the garments of righteousnes that you may be filled and clothed with all godly lyfe and conuersation that you may be bolde and and not affeard at the appearing of the Lord in the dreadfull day of iudgement Moreouer yée enuious men reuenger théefe murtherer blasphemer lyar quariler and deceiuer why dooest thou now shake for feare that wunt to be so lusty a thretner so feirce and stout a reuenger against thy poore neighbour or enemie Deut. 32. what art thou become a lump of feare and is the day come that hath shaken a sunder thy ioynts and hart stringes that thou so wretchedly doost wéepe Rom. 12. or why wéepest thou because thou canst haue no more thy mynde to hurt and sting thy neighbour and enemie and so backbyte him alas wretch the direfull day is come that the Lord sayeth vengeaunce is mine and I will reuenge yea the time is come the hée will spend all his arrowes vpon thee and will reward thy enuious reuenging hart euen into thy bosome except thou hast imbraced repentance in time for beholde God sayeth the fire is kindled in his wrath and shall burne vnto the bottome of hel Zache 5. for the flying booke of cursse which was entred into the houses of theues swearers murtherers lyers reuengers quarrellers and malicious sinners is brought foorth that they may bée iudged and thereby consumed being adiudged to be s ectered with chaines of fire and led through the gates of hel to be brent in the pit of burning brimstoÌ„e for euer Wherfore awake quickly out of your s lumbring â—eâ— of sin turne vnto the Lord your God for he is gracioê° and mercifull and redy to pardon wickednes so that you â—â—cuse your hartâ— become 〈◊〉 creatures in holines and purenes working out your saluation with earnest deuotion for consider the dreadefull voyce which the watchemen soundeth of the day of the Lord saying that it shall come as a snare to all them that sit on the face of the earth wherby ye ought to take heede to your selues lest your hearts be ouercome with surfetting and drunkennes with lusâ—es and cares of the worlde and so haue your heartes as it were giued to sinne Therefore repent for the kingdom of God is at hande Matth. 13. which as the Apostle saith is like to a net cast into the sea that gathereth of all kinde of fishes which when it is full men do draw to land and sit and gather the good into vessels and cast the bad away and so shal it be at the end of the world the sonne of maÌ„ shal send foorth his angels and they shall seuer the good from the bad and gather out of his kingdome all that offende and doeth iniquitie and shall cast them into a furnace of fire there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth and then shal the iust man shine as bright as the Sonne in the kingdome of the Father wherein ye are warned carefully to watch and abide in Christ least you be founde cursed children forsaking the right way for which cause arme your selues with goodnesse of life Matth. 2. â— that when he shall s ende his angels with great voyce of trumpet to gather together his chosen from the foure windes and from the one ende of the worlde to the other you may be found profitable seruaÌ„ts and well doing Peter 2.3 For it is written that the heauens shall perish with fire and the elements consume with hearte and the earth burne with all that is therein And seeing that all these things shall thus vndoubtedly perish what maner of persons ought we to be in conuersation godlinesse in righteousnesse and holinesse looking for the comming of that day in which the whole worlde shal be vtterly burnt vp and consumed no doubt seeing that such thinges are most assuredly to be looked for we ought to be diligent so to liue as to be founde true children of the light sprinkled in our heartes with the blood of Christ Heb. 10. from an euill conscience knowing that euery 〈◊〉 that bringeth not foorth good fruite shall be â—ewen downe and cas t into the fire Matth. 7. for Chri st saith That not all that say to me Lorde Lorde shall enter into the kingdome of heauen but hee that
the way of godlines and to follow Christe setting our affection in heauen that according to Paule when Christ which is our lyfe shall shewe him self that wée also may appeare with him in glory therfore saieth Iames Coloss 3. be yée patient vnto the comming of the Lord and settle your harts in goodnes Ieames 5. for the comming of the Lord draweth nigh when wée shall see him as hee is and bee lyke him made by him the sonnes of God who shall chaunge our vile bodies to be facioned lyke to his glorious body that wée shal enioy the fruition of his euerlasting tabernacle heauenly Ierusalem at his apperance againe to s aluation wherunto hee called vs by the Gospell to obtaine the glorie that commeth of our Lord Iesus Christe for Christe dyed for vs that wee should be partakers of his kingdome and haue our names in the booke of lyfe as s ayeth the Apostle wée shall be deliuered from this bondage of corruption into the glorious libertie of the sonnes of God Rom. 8. according to Christ s aying I am the resurrectioÌ„ and life he that Iohn 12. beleeueth in mee yea though hee were dead yet shall hee lyue and whoso euer lyueth and beleeueth in mee shall not dye for euer according to Luke Luke 20. They which be made woorthy to inioy the kingdome of the world to come and the resurrection from death can dye no more for they are equall to the Angells and are the sonnes of God for saith Christe Reue. 2 3. He that ouercommeth and is faithfull to the end I will giue him to eate of the tree of lyfe whiche is in the midst of the Paradice of God and he shall haue a crowne of lyfe and shall not be hurt of the second death but haue his name in the booke of lyfe and be a piller in the temple of my God and shall sit with me in my seate and this is the victorie that ouercoÌ„meth the world euen our stedfast and vnfeigned faith in Iesus Christe by whome GOD hath giuen vnto vs eternall lyfe and to bee glorified by him at the day of his appearance when the misterie of Gods will shall be opened in his sonne Iesus Christe at his comming at the end of the world at which time shall be performed that all that haue done well shall go into euerlasting lyfe and all that hath done euill into euerlasting dampnation Therfore let vs fight the good fight of faith and walk as children of the day waiting with stedfast hope for the adoption and fruition of the heauenly kingdome that wée may méete him ioyfully comming in the cloudes and receiue the garland of glorification crown of eternall lyfe Iohn 1.5 and so be clothed with our heauenly mansion and translated into his kingdome there receiuing the glorious garments of immortalitie and the blessednes of our new IerusaleÌ„ where beholde loe wée shall shine as bright as the sunne beames béeing in all glorie in the presence of the brightnes of our omnipotent and resplendant GOD. To the obtaining of the high rewarde whereof watch and pray that your conuersation may be according to the Gospell and therefore let this be your watchman while you heare do lyue to think 〈…〉 Saint Ierome that whether you eate or drink or what so euer elles you dooe that moste dreadfull Troumpet soundeth in your eares Aryse you dead and come vnto Iudgement O Lord God almightie which art and wast and art to come who art Alpha and Omega to thee be all prayse Reue. 7. honor and glorie and all power and dignitie be ascribed to the almightie maker sitting vpon the seate and vnto the Lamb for euermore for now all thy people are gathered togither in thy sonne Iesus Christe that the misterie of thy holy will may be declared Ephe. 1. beeing called by the troump of the Arch-angell to come vnto the mouÌ„t SioÌ„ and to the citie of the liuing God the celestial Ierusalem and to an innumerable sight of Angels Heb. 12. and vnto the congrogation of the first borne soÌ„nes which are written in heauen and to God the iudge of all and to the spirits of iust and perfect men to Iesus the mediator of the new Testament Phil. 3. who dooth change our vile bodies to be facioned like to his glorious body therfore to thee be prayse honour and power world with out end AMEN THE GLORIOVS AND BEAVTIFVL GARlande of mans glorification CAP. 3. The mysterie of the glorious comming of Christ at the end of the worlde and howe he shall sit in his glittering seate of Maiestie in all brightnesse of glorie power and dominion And where and howe all thinges both in heauen and earth shall be gathered together in Christ and see his glorie and in him our glorification EXcellent was the coÌ„ming of God when in his glorie like shining fire he came downe vpon mount Sinai where Moyses brought the people out of the tentes to meete the Lorde so marueilously descending downe vpon the hill which burnt with fire eueÌ„ vnto the middes of heauen Exod. 19. and the Lorde spake vnto them with his mightie thundring voyce out of fire Deut. 4. that it was exceeding fearefull and also so wonderfull glorious that wheÌ„ Moyses had talked with God the people were not able to beholde the glistering beautie and brightnesse of Moyses face Exod. 34. But nowe howe shall his glorie bee exalted in the highest what time he shall make him vp to shake the earth in the ende of the worlde when the appearance of his comming shall exceede in all greatnesse of power and might according to Micheas Micheas â— The Lorde shall come out of his holy place Micheas 1. and come downe and â—â—eade vpon the high things of the earth that the mountaines shall consume vnder him and the valleyes cleaue asunder And then the Sunâ—â—e and Moone shall be ashamed at his glorious face of incomparable clearenesse brightnes from which all the beautie glorie and pompe of this world shall flée away into rebuke dishonour not able to endure the perfection of his beautie and incomprehensible pureness e before whome it consumeth to nought perish and vanish away for euer and thâ—â— O how Christ shall glister in the magnificence of his omnipotent kingly maiestie in the preheminence noe of dignitie aboue dignities that all the glorie of kings kingdomes shall giue place and vanish at his mightie appearance not worthy to endure the glorie of his coÌ„ming before which they waste and fall into emptines and he shall shew him selfe from the top of the high heauens with such triumphant power of vnspeakeable glorie dominion and might that from his presence shall â—â—â—â—away â—eâ—rth heauens and their place no more souÌ„d for he shall shake the earth againe remooue â—â—â—ne away those things which haue ended their course wheÌ„ the powres of heauen the vniuers al frame of this world shal
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
righteousnes vnto eternall life That all that beleeue in him walking after the spirite and not after the fleshe might be pertakers of his heauenly kingdome and made the sonnes of God For which cause to the better confirmation of our faith and hope of saluation It is requisite to shewe the ordenance and promyse of God from the beginning touching our iustification in his sonne Iesus Christ that thereby wée may be stirred vp by the great goodnes of god for to séeke by Christe Cor. 1.2 the riches of his glorious inheritance vpon the Sainctes Ephe. 11. hée béeing ordained thereto of God before the beginninge of the worlde was made vnto our glory Touching whome in this Booke of mans glorification wée must especially looke vnto Christes two coÌ„mings séeing that hée is the Author and finisher of our redemption and hath adopted vs to be the sonnes of glory by appearing once in the fleshe to put sinne to flight by the offering vp of him self to death whome the Father raysed vp to lyfe and is entred into heauen to appeare now in the sight of God for vs and shall come againe to chaunge our vile bodyes Phil. 3. to be facyoned lyke to his glorious body Wherfore in that wée haue such an high Aduocate in heauen by whome wée haue an incorruptible crowne of blessednes propounded and set before vs Let vs walke woorthy and laudable vnto God according to the grace giuen vs in Iesus Christe that wée may obteine the rewarde thereof And now to consider the purpose of the heauenly Father how hée hath blessed vs in all manner of heauenly thinges by Chris te according as hée hath chosen vs that wée should be Saints through the beloued Iesus It followeth that wée kéepe alwayes a ioyfull remembrance that as the glory of the last house or teastament of God was greater then the first so is it in the manner of the two commings of Christ for first hée came in the humilitie of the fleshe to be to vs a sauing health béeing borne of the Virgin Mary by the woorking of the holy Ghoste very man and mortall and yet the same very GOD and immortall who béeing in the shape of God and equall with God Collos s â— Phil. 2. in whome dwelleth all the fulnes of the Godhead bodyly yet did he neuerthelesse make him self of no reputation takeing vpon him the shape of a seruant and became lyke vnto man and was founde in his apparell as a man humbling him self to all obedience for though hé e were Gods sonne yet learned hée obedyence Heb. 5. by those things which hée suffered and was made perfect Ihon. 1. and the cau se of eternall saluation vnto al that obey him according to Iohn In the beginning was the woord and the woord was with God and the woord was God and this woorde was made fleshe beeing the lyfe and light of men giuing power to all that beléeue in him to be the sonnes of God for it pleased the father to send his sonne in the sinfull fleshe béeing without sinne and by sinne dampned sinne in the flesh and loused the woorkes of the deuill Rom. â— Whome he maketh heire of all things béeing the brightnes of him self bearing vp all thinges with the woord of his power for so it was the will of the Father that in him should all fulnes dwell Heb. 1. and that in him all thinges should haue their béeing that hée might be all in all Thus the Almighty Creator hath performed his blessed promyse Collossians â— when hée sayde that the séede of the Woman shall breake the Serpents head and when long after he sayd vnto Abraham vnto thy séede will I giue this land Gen. 3. for one that come out of thine owne body shall be thyne heire and thy seede shall bee as the starres in number And Abraham beléeued the Lord and it was imputed to him for righteousnes Gen. 15. And also the Lord sayde againe to Abraham when he was 89 yeare olde I will make my couenant betwéen mée thée and will multiply thé e excéedingly for behold my testameÌ„t is with thée that thou shalt be a father of many nations my bond betwéen mée thée thy séed after thée shal be an euerlasting testament Gen. 17. I wil be good to theÌ„ giue theÌ„ the land wherin thou art a stranger euen all the lande of Canaan for an euerlasting possession and wil be their God for Saâ—a shall beare a sonne and thou shalt call his Name Isac and she bare Abraham a sonne euen the same season which the Lord had appointed Thus it pleased the Almightie God to choose vs and not we him shewing foorth hereby the abundancie of his loue and mercie in that he hath mercie vpon theÌ„ which are not yet in the worlde and in that he declareth his great goodnes in multiplying his louing kindnesse towarde those that are present and to them that are past and to them that are to come for after that Adam thorough sinne brought in the corruption of nature that the euill seede of wickednesse was sowen in all mens hearts whereby death raigned by meanes of sinne then this darnell and cockle of vice and iniquitie did grow ripe in the first generations of Adam that they walked after their owne stubborne and fleshly will neglecting Gods goodnes That the Lord was thereby prouoked to bring his water floud vpon the world and destroy all mankind except Noye and his houshold And then after that the ofspring of Noye was againe multiplied to a great people by processe of time they waxed also vngodly and wicked but the Lord had giuen his raine bowe for a couenant that he would neuer destroy the world with watermore And then the most highest did choose him a man from among them whose name was Abraham whom he loued and to him onely God shewed his wil and made an euerlasting couenant with him promising him as is aforesaid that he will neuer forsake his seede and so in his old age gaue him Isaac the first testimonie of Gods promise and couenant begun so faithfully performed in Christ Iesus to the ioy and comfort of man in that we see euidently that God is righteous and true and hath giuen vs an assured hope of our election that by that onely seede of Abraham we shal enioy the euerlasting possession of that new blessed land of Canaan the first lande of promise Therefore this record we must beare in our selues that God is true and that what hee do or say can no man change what he promiseth he can not but perfourme And nowe the more to confirme this ioye faith hope which Abraham our first father of beliefe had to God in respect of the birth of Isac and prosperitie of his seede The Lorde to our example tryed whether righteous Abraham would beare an immutable minde towardes his God to loue him aboue all the dearest thinges which he