the sonne before the world the sonne was the holy Ghost and the fain the world the father is the holy Ghost and the sonne in the world to come The concentricall Trinity being thus Father Sonne Holy Ghost whose might authority and power shal be at that time all one ouer them that shal be baptized with the holy Ghost and with fire for now euen to day is the holy Ghost labouring in the harts of men to win them vnto the father and the sonne Wherfore harden not your harts as in the prouocation in the day of temptation in the wildernes Happy shall the wise virgins be which are found with oile in their lampes not trusting to borrow in the busie day of all flesh when none can lend Wherfore good brethren be not as the foolish virgins the sleeping disciples the sluggish seruants or as the busie Martha but haue care to choose the better things during the time of the flesh that the holy Ghost may find a resting place in your soules to bring you to euerlasting life Math. 11. 5. Then shal it be said The blind receiue their sight the hault go the lepers are clensed the deaf hear the dead are raised vp and the poor receiue the gospell Mark 14. 38. Take heed watch and pray least ye enter into temptation Mark 13. 33. Take heed watch and pray for ye know not when the time is For Christ saith Iohn 14. 16. I will pray the father and he shall giue you another comforter that he may abide with you for euer the spirit of truth whom the world cannot receiue bicause it seeth him not nor knoweth him but ye know him for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you I will not leaue you comfortlesse I will come to you yet a little while and the world shall see me no more but ye shall see me bicause I liue ye shall liue also And in the same place following Christ saith These things haue I spoken vnto you being present with you but the comforter which is the holy Ghost whom the father will send in my name he shall teach you all things and bring all things vnto your remembrance which I haue told you and so foorth to the end of the chapter And in the next chapter But when the comforter shall com whom I will send vnto you from the father euen the spirit which proceedeth of the father he shall testifie of me and ye shall be witnesses also bicause ye haue been with me from the beginning And againe Christ saith I tell you truth it is expedient for you that I go away for if I go not away the comforter will not com vnto you but if I depart Iohn 15. 26. I will send him vnto you and when he is come he will reprooue the world of sinne of righteousnes and of iudgement of sinne bicause they beleeue not in me of righteousnes bicause I go to the father and ye shall see me no more of iudgement bicause the prince of the world is iudged Iohn 16. 7. I haue yet many things to say vnto you but ye cannot hear them now howbeit when he is come which is the spirit of truth which will lead you into all truth for he shall not speake of himselfe but whatsoeuer he shall hear that shall he speak and he shall shew you the things to come he shall glorify me for he shall receiue of mine and shall giue it vnto you To this place may be applied the Lords words spoken by the prophet Ioel Ioel. 2. 28. I will powre out my spirit vpon all flesh your sonnes and your daughters shall prophesy your old men shall dreame dreames and your yoong men shall see visions and also vpon the seruants and vpon the maidens in those daies wil◠I powre my spirit Whosoeuer therfore shall call vpon the Lord with a contrite hart dooing the works of the spirit and not of the flesh he shall be saued For in mount Sion and in Ierusalem shall be deliuerance as the Lord hath said and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call The holy Ghost is a diuers gift vnto the chosen to som the gift of prophesie to some the interpretation of toongs as Saint Paule saith touching spirituall gifts 1 Cor. 12. Brethren I would not haue you ignorant wherfore I declare vnto you that no man speaking by the spirit of God calleth Iesus execrable also no man can say that Iesus is the Lord but by the holy Ghost Now there are diuersity of gifts but the same spirit and there are diuersity of administrations but the same Lord and there are diuersity of operations but God is the same and worketh all in all Now the manifestation of the spirit is giuen euery man to profit withall for to one is giuen by the spirit the word of wisdome to another the word of knowledge by the same spirit and to another the operations of great works and to another prophesie and to another the discerning of spirits and to another the diuersity of toongs and to another the interpretation of toongs Now all these are the body of Christ and members seruing to seuerall vses in the church of God as some for apostles some for prophets some for teachers some to do miracles some for healers some for helpers some for gouernors some for linguists and some for interpreters This gift lighteth on the chosen in many shapes it came vpon the sonne of man in the likenes of a doue Acts 2. 3. it came vpon the Apostles in the form of clouen toongs like fire it came vpon disciples at Ephesus Acts 19. 6. that neuer before heard of the holy Ghost by Pauls laying hands on them How the faithfull may be assured of this gift let them read the eight chapter of the Epistle to the Romans concerning the hope patience and prosperity of this gift which will something ease the tediousnes of this treatise Therfore kind reader take it in woorth that I so often send thee to the spring it selfe for the water that is most sweet and fresh the carriage not far and the burden easie albeit I will not omit to lay downe in this place the fruits of the flesh and the fruits of the spirit for they rebell ech one against the other the operations of both are contrary For the works of the flesh are adultery Gal. 5. 19. fornication vncleannes wantonnes idolatry witchcraft hatred debate emulations wrath cōtentions seditions heresies enuie murther drunkennes gluttony and such like which things whosoeuer doth exercise he shall not inherit the kingdom of God But the fruit of the spirit is loue ioy peace long-suffering gentlenes goodnes faith meeknes and temperancy against which there is no law Thus much I thought good heer to mention that ye may haue in this Enchiridion as it were a marriners compas to passe by for as by it we recouer a direct course againe after many stormes and at last
heauen shall he thunder vpon them the Lord shall iudge the ends of the world and shall giue power vnto his king and exalt the horn of his annointed Therfore whoso beleeueth stedfastly in him he is already translated into life eternall Through this beleef was Enoch and Elias taken vp quick into heauen to remain happy with him for euermore Gen. 5 24. For it is said Henoch pleased God for he walked with him and was no more seen for God tooke him away so was Eliah while hee walked with Elisha taken by a whirlwind into heauen 2 King 2. 11. whose spirit was so setled on this heauenly Godhead that he knew before that he should be taken vp when as he said to Elisha 2. King 2. 9. What shal I do for thee before I be taken from thee Neither must we think that there is any other mediation to be made for vs by angels saints or elementall creatures of what sort soeuer than our owne spirituall confession and liuely protestation for after we duly conceiue what a God he is by him our temporall life that beleeue shall be translated into euerlasting life This is the fountaine of nature and nature it self the author of antiquity Dan. 7. 22. and the ancient of daies whose word is truth whose being is inuariable and whose place is perfection He made man the most excellent creature on the earth whom he created in honor Gen. 2. 15. and placed in pleasure According to his owne image made he him Gen. 1. 27. that hee might be glorified in him and gaue him dominion ouer all his creatures in earth This then is to be beleeued of vs that as we remained in him and his power before all worlds were made and before our first father Adam was created so when he shall take this life from vs that he hath giuen vs and bereaue vs of this earthly stewardship that we shall return again to that euerlasting place wherin we were first elected and prepared before the world was made or any foundation laid therof Adam fell by misbeleef to death by neglecting the first caueat that God gaue him who soon by the inticement of the woman sinned extremely by eating of the only forbidden tree of the garden Gen. 3. 6. both being circumuented by the subtilitie of satan the prince of darknes Neither are we our selues free from that corruption which he wrought vnto vs his posterity yet God to keepe his owne image from desperation hastned to promise him life again Gen. 3. 15. if he would harken vnto it which no doubt Adam laid hold on being contented for to leaue the pleasure that he had in this world only hoping for life in the world to com Gen. 2. 23. For he named his wife Euah life foreseeing that she should be the mother of life and that her seed should bruse the serpents head which he counted a sufficient reuenge vpon his deadly enimy Isai. 27. 1. In what day the Lord with his mighty sword should visit the piercing serpent yea that crooked serpent and slea the dragon in the sea and he most assuredly beleeued that it should happen though in his daies he might not see it Deut. 3. 28. Euen so trauelled Moses for the rest he saw not for the good of his posterity the Israelits 2. Sam. 1. and likewise Dauid warred for the peace of Salomon 1. King 1. Therfore let men be wise and take heed of surfetting in too much pleasure of this world least they be wholy disinherited of the world to com We see how glad Adam was to imbrace this little branch of life wheras before he made no reckoning of the whole body which he enioyed His beginning was happines but by his disobedience hath left a cursed inheritance to all nations of the earth Wherefore it is not ynough for vs to continue in the state wherin we were first borne albeit it had been blessednes in him so to haue done for then we abide still as children of wrath Col. 3. 5. 6. But seeing so many so little alter from their nature let vs all bee circumspect and looke about vs how to escape this prison of ignorance the bait of satan as the part of a wise man is to see both before and behinde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hom. II. not too much besotted with the security of the present time Let vs therfore looke back and consider by our fall from whence our redemption is to com then with a liuely faith indeed lay hold of it as did Adam and the rest of the holy fathers which before the law or any ordinances were made receiued the comfort of the holy Ghost hauing an entire hope of the continuall grace of the same God For from thencefoorth Adams conscience dwelt in the Lord so that he beleeued in God the father almighty maker of heauen and earth And this was a true faith in him bicause he had no other father but God who was almighty for he made him of nothing he made also heauen and earth earth to bring foorth creatures and heauen to nourish them vnto mans vse Therfore we rightly say Our father or I beleeue in God the father almighty maker of heauen and earth For euery mans faith is knowne vnto himselfe and another mans faith is to him vncertaine This beleefe brought life vnto him that was dead likewise Noah his beleefe was the same in the arke such was Abrahams when he would haue offered his only sonne Isaac in whose seed the blessing of all nations was hoped for Gen. 12 3. according to the promise and the like in many other which for breuity I recite not Exod. 4. 30. as Moses by his wondrous miracles in the land of Egypt in so much as he excelled al the wit 2. King 6. 6. magick of that land Elisha made iron to swim in the water with many other which became true prophets of things to come so immortall was their beleef in those daies that their daily bread was the heauenly cogitation of this eternall subiect Matt. 6. 11. the infinity of power happines strength and honor the recorder of his owne hand-work the register of all that is done the cause of all things that shall happen We haue in respect of him no maner of being no presence no life no perfection our being is inconstant for man is vnstable in all his waies Our presence is of no abiding Psal. 39. 5. for he hath made our daies but as a span long To conclude our actions and cogitations are so peruerse and wicked that it might repent the Lord of our redemption as it repented him that he made man Gen. 6. 7. And a very smal number should enter the ark and be saued That poore life which we haue is no more to be respected than death it self seeing it withereth as the lilly in all his glory Our greatest perfection is but extreme
imperfection when as the works of God in beginning middle and end are absolutely perfect for euer His beginning endeth his mean time both beginneth and endeth his beginning is a momentary end and there is no other mean time with him Is it then ynough to say I BELEEVE IN GOD THE FATHER ALMIGHTY MAKER OF HEAVEN AND EARTH In no wise for although we are bound to beleeue so much yet is it not all that is required of vs for the very Iews beleeued thus much whose beleef was to be saued They saw the saluation of the Lord a far off through remorse in conscience considering their fall and the wickednes of mans thoughts all day long Adam their father had lost his state of knowledge they therfore remained in ignorance sinfull and their whole hope was to be grounded vpon the comfortable promises of that God and otherwise it had been hard for them to haue conceiued in their minds so great an eternity and such an immortall happines But God bereauing man his image of that honor which he once affoorded him which is to say the inheritance of a paradise would not vtterly destroy him but rather make him by a liuely faith to await for a blessed estate to abide for euer yea for euer and euer As Adam being first in the adoption of blessednes and life and consequently we all by him became accursed and died made vs accursed and to dy daily and as he by the almighty Gods meanes hoped to regain his saluation so we particularly ought to scan the meanes of his saluation to keepe our fraile flesh from desperation to comfort our guiltines of death and to keep vs from euerlasting damnation His meanes was the comfort of a victory wherin he reioiced as a giant to run his course Psal. 19. 5. and he did most constantly beleeue that as God promised so he should vanquish his most subtile and deadly enimy What could more win the hart of man thā such a promise Sundry such promises from age to age were reuealed to his posterity Gen. 9 26. As to Noah Blessed be the God of Sem. To Abraham Gen. 17. 6. I will multiply thee as the stars of heauen when as yet he had no child and his wife was old To Dauid by the prophet Nathan I will be his father 2. Sam. 7. 14. he shall be my sonne if he sin I will chasten him with the rod of men but my mercy shall not part away from him as I tooke it from Saul whom I haue put away before thee and thine house shal be established and thy kingdom for euer before thee thy throne shall be established for euer Ier. 33. 14. In that day I will cause the branch of righteousnes to grow vp vnto Dauid and he shall execute right iudgement in the land then shall Iuda be saued and Ierusalem dwell safely and he that shall call her is the Lord our righteousnes For thus saith the Lord Dauid shal neuer want a man to sit vpon the throne of the house of Israell This is the good then which the Lord will performe vnto the house of Israell and vnto the house of Iuda These were all most delightfull promises still to stay the hart of man in his owne saluation Isay. 7. 14. yet receiued Isay a greater light when he vnderstood the name of this conqueror Dan. 9. 24. but Daniell the greatest comfort to whom the precise time of victory and blessing to all the world was foretold which was in the comming of Messias which we call CHRIST the annointed Iesus that was promised the sauiour of the world These men were reuiued by meer promises but we being adopted heires of their hope do exceed their faith in beleeuing in this Iesus for we conclude with Peter Matt. 16. 16. that he is the sonne of the liuing God Wherfore we say AND IN IESVS CHRIST to be vnderstood euery mans Iesus or Sauiour that beleeueth whom Iesus or Iehoshua the sonne of Nun sauiour and captain of the Israelites prefigured long before that as he led Moses people into the promised land and sustained them in all their iourneyes so shall this Iesus defend and keep vs that call and trust vpon him from all subtile and malitious inuentions of satan and the world whatsoeuer and most couragiously carrie vs through this vale of misery to a promised land of rest a paradise wherin he himselfe is Lord and they that will not endure patiently the calamities vexations and variety of this iourney to rest shall surely haue their reward with the murmurers of Israell and the ten wearied and vncomfortable spies of the land of Canaan which might not see the land againe that they had once without cause blamed Numb 13. 29. to hinder Gods decree And no doubt with their false reports greeued many thousand soules and had not the Lord put into the harts of Iosua and Caleb his valiant seruants to speak the truth many surely might haue perished in infidelity but the Lord found Caleb as a hart harty and couragious not fearing death who was therfore rewarded with a second youth Ioshu 14. 11. both in strength and wisdome his youth came againe vnto him and his age returned forty yeeres answering well the question of regeneration or second birth made by Nicodemus to our true Iosua Iohn 3. 4. or sauiour in the Gospell to still and pacify the grudging mutiny of the people which the false spies had raised through the host Iosua was to them a shepheard signifying our shepheard Iesus that guideth vs to heauen The blind Iewes maketh saluation in this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saue vs where they haue both in word and sense Iesus yet will it not agree with their consciences to say Iesus saue vs but the cause of their wilfull error in this point is that they may couer many sinnes with one excuse For to say he came not vtterly denieth his condemnation to be by them it denieth that he was crucified by them it denieth that they so wickedly pierced him it denieth that they gaue him gall and vineger to drink it excuseth their buffering mocking and scourging of him their spitting at him their crowning of him with thornes and generally whatsoeuer else they did despitefully vnto him But when these things were alleaged to them and the certainty of his comming to be iust in the fulnes of time prooued they began wheras before they skilfully contended with bashfulnes to plead their own ignorance in the prophets standing amazed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hom. II. as stags at a gaze they say they be the sons of Abraham Christs owne kindred which Iohn Baptist answereth Say not with your selues Matth. 3. 9. that we haue Abraham to our father for God euen of these stones can raise children vnto Abraham Matt. 8. 11. And againe Many shall come from east and west and rest with Abraham Isaac and Iacob in heauen but the children of
the kingdom the Iewes shall be cast into vtter darknes where shall bee weeping and gnashing of teeth What then can their proud linage and alliance helpe them when for not beleeuing aright in the Messias they fal daily into condemnation Now againe to return to our own farther instruction from whence commeth our help and our saluation euen from the Lord that hath made both heauen and earth or from the father Lord of heauen and earth Matt. 11. 25. This Iesus came from heauen was made flesh of the virgin Mary begotten of his father before all worlds he is very God as touching his father and very man as touching his mother wherby he might vndertake manhood and ioin it vnto his Godhead and becom a fit messenger about his fathers busines as he answered the propitiations for them I must go about my fathers busines Luk. 2. 49. to prooue that he was the true root of Ishai Isay. 11. 1. and the seed of Abraham Luke 3. Saint Luke laieth downe the line of his manhood to God reckoning all his fathers till Adam Saint Mathew sheweth his diuinity and the succession of his right vnto the kingdom Matth. 1. as it was said Isai. 8. 14. A virgin shall conceiue a sonne and thou shalt call his name EMANVEL God with vs. This is that seed of the woman that was to bruise the serpents head and to take the prey out of the diuels iawes which meanes of redemption by the ey of faith the holy fathers foresaw He therfore is not to be thought Iesus the sonne of Nun Iosh. 1. 1. nor Iesus that was called Iustus Col. 4. 11. Paules work-fellow nor Iesus the sonne of Sirach Ecclus. 50. 27. but Iesus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which was called Christ the annointed Matth. 1. 16. to shew the title of his earthly honor the other name declareth his authority in heauen by his fathers spirituall and euerlasting inheritance but of the name Christ is hereafter to be spoken This name was giuen by his father to the end that men might beleeue in him being sent and not be deceiued by any other professed Iosua therfore was it told Dan. 9. 24. Messiah shall be slaine euen the Lords Christ or annointed And to make the blinde Iewes more inexcusable the very day and hower of his death was fore-shewed by the prophet He was called Iesus of his infinit saluation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Matth. 1. 21. for hee shall saue his people from their sinnes Like as if he should make those which the Lord hath called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 none of his people 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his especiall people or turne the Lords fearfull and terrible words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I will not haue pity 1. Pet. 2. 10. into ruhhamah I will haue pity on For such is the vertue and force of his reconciliation with his father This was the very lamb of God that wrought Israels saluation he shall make crooked pathes straight a bruised reed shall he not breake euen so patiently went he as a sheep vnto the slaughter not opening his mouth Oh how vnspeakable seemeth this patience to vs his followers when the least occasions the greatest in this respect being nothing can withdraw our most heauenly and deuout cogitations of spirit to the most earthly and sensuall wil of the flesh Which plainly discouereth our vnwilling seruice of God our vrged obedience towards him our most vndutifull expectation of him our idle hands in his vineyard our dull eares in hearing him and whatsoeuer else we neglect which generally is the time pleasing of vs all Wherfore good brethren serue him as ye ought willingly obey him liberally humbly attend on him be not found idle in the vintage nor as deafe adders stopping your eares at the voice of the charmer charm he neuer so wisely neither harden your harts as in the day of prouocation or in the day of temptation in the wildernes and let vs learne to serue the world euen as it serueth vs which is euen then to loath it when it seemeth most amiable then to refuse it when it most desireth vs and then to fear it most when it most fawneth vpon vs. But what crosses can the frailty of mans flesh abide or from what will or earthly pleasure can it abstaine truly not the least although it were to win the euerlasting ioy of heauen Notwithstanding Iesus warneth vs to suffer reproches for his sake Math. 5. 11. adding blessednes to our patience and also he willeth vs to com vnto him all that are weary and heauy loden Math. 11. 28. and he will refresh vs. Likewise he saith vnto vs Take on my yoke and learn of me for I am meeke and lowly in hart and ye shall finde rest for your soules Recording the prophets exhortations to the people of Ierusalem in these words Ier. 6. 16. Take heed to the ancient waies of your fathers Abraham Isaac and Iacob which is the good way walk therin and you shall find rest for your soules This is the saluation that the prophet Dauid so much delighted in Psal. 69. For saith he God will saue Sion and build againe the walles of the city of Iuda and they shall dwell there and inherit it and the seed of his seruants shall inherit it and they that loue his name shall dwell therin Iesus was sent not only a sauiour to the Iewes that faithfully receiued him bicause they were his owne kindred but also vnto them that were without yea euen the Gentiles As it is said Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for he hath raised vp a mighty saluation for vs in the house of his seruant Dauid to be a light to lighten the Gentiles and a glory to the people of Israel and to perform the oth which he sware to our forefather Abraham that he would giue vs. There may we well vnderstand and mark that he was sent a deliuerance to all nations that they whosoeuer should call vpon him might be deliuered from the feare of their enimies ghostly or bodily to wit the outragious threatnings of Satan or any opprobrious comminations of this world This was the saluation that Simeon prophesied of and receiued comfort by Luke 2. when he said Lord now lettest thou thy seruant depart in peace for mine eies haue seen thy saluation and likewise Maries thanksgiuing Luke 1. when she said My soule doth magnify the Lord and my spirit reioiceth in God my sauiour It seemeth the prophets had no greater comfort than still to be foreshewing of this sauiour the redemption of the world as their prophecies mention Isai. 1. 2. 3. In that day the highest mountaine shal be prepared and exalted aboue all hils and all nations shall flow vnto it and many people to wit the Gentiles shall go and say Com let vs go vp to the mountaine of the Lord to the house of the God of Iacob
so the son also quickeneth whom he will And the father iudgeth not but referreth all iudgement to his sonne bicause all should honor the sonne as the father and they that honor not the sonne as the father honoreth not the father that sent him So whosoeuer heareth his word and beleeueth in him that sent him shall not com vnto condemnation but hath passed from death to life for as the father hath life in himselfe so hath the sonne To beleeue cannot be to seek honor one of another but of God alone and his son Iesus Christ for when Moses stroke the rock Exod. 17. 6. seeking honor of the children of Israel saying Hear now ye rebels shall we bring you water out of the rock Here for not sanctifieng the Lord in the presence of the Israelites and for honoring themselues in the Lords miracle both Moses and Aaron were cut off from the hope they had to see the land of promise If Moses being a faithfull leader of the Lords owne host and an approoued seruant of the mighty God Iehoua fell by disobedience into arrogancy Exod. 17. seeking his owne honor more than Gods and was so seuerely punished oh that men would but think how fearful a sentence that was by which he was depriued of forty yeeres hope and the fauour of so long trauel which was so sore in the wildernes How much more terrible shall our iudgement be if any way we decline or fall away from a sincere and perfect beleef which we haue had in God the father and his sonne Iesus Christ or if we beleeue not the word that testifieth of him and through which we see him daily Moses had but a meer hope of things to come which things we haue seen through faith and we are strongly to abide therin giuing all honor to the sonne as to the father in whom we beleeue by whom we liue haue our being Iohn 6. 37. This only sonne of God Iesus Christ is the bread of life the true sabaoth or rest the very top and end of Iubiles let vs study to enter into this rest His meat is to doe his fathers will and let our sustenance be to follow him and doe his will and let vs not labor only for the meat that perisheth but for the meat that dureth euerlastingly which the sonne of man shall giue vnto vs for him hath God the father sealed and the work of God is to beleeue in him whom he sent his sonne This is the rock that followed the host and the rock wherupon the Lord hath founded his church this is Gods rock and the rock of the All-sufficient Iohn 10. 20. he and the father is one And whosoeuer liueth and beleeueth in him shall neuer dy Iohn 11 26. he shall gather togither into one the children of God from all corners of the earth by his death and passion He is the sonne of God that taketh away the sinnes of the world Nomb. 21. 9. this is he that was to be lifted vp Iohn 3. 14. and exalted aboue all heauens Lord who beleeueth our report and vnto whom is thine arme reuealed And Lord who shall dwell in thy tabernacle Psal. 15. and rest vpon thy holy hill Euen he that leadeth an vncorrupt life and doth the thing that is right For this is the vine and his father is the husbandman and the branch that beareth not fruit in him he cutteth off and euery one that beareth fruit he purgeth that it may bring foorth more So must we abide in him and he in vs for as the branch cannot beare fruit except it be in the vine no more can we except we abide and dwell in him Let vs therfore pray for the peace which is in him for the peace of Iesus Christ the sonne of God is greater than the afflictions of the whole world Let vs be of good comfort Iohn 16. 13. he hath already conquered the world Psal. 2. and let vs kisse the son least he be angry and so we perish euerlastingly for if his wrath be kindled yea but a little blessed are all they that put their whole trust and confidence in him for the father hath put all things in subiection vnder his feet Psal. 2. and giuen him the vtmost parts of the earth for his possession OVR LORD He is the soueraigne Lord of the whole earth and inspireth the harts of kings and princes according to his wisedome hee aduaunceth the humble and putteth down the mighty from their seat he filleth the hungry with good things and the rich he sendeth empty away He is the faithful steward that giueth his fathers people meat in due season he blesseth all them that call vpon him in his fathers name Psal. 7. This is the welbeloued Salomon the prince of wisedom whose daughters goings are beutifull the ioints of her thighes like iewels the work of a cunning man her nauell as a round cup full of liquor her belly as an heap of wheat compassed about with lillies her brests as two yong roses that are twins her neck as a tower of Iuory her eies as the fish-pooles in Heshbon by the gate of Bath-Rhabbim her nose as the tower of Lebanon that looketh toward Damascus her head as scarlet and her haire as purple He is the spirituall Salomon his faire daughter Psal. 8. the Church which also is compared to a vineyard that bringeth foorth fruit euen a thousand folde He is the Lord that the prophet Dauid spake of and whose victory he foresaw Psal. 110. saying The Lord said vnto my Lord sit thou on my right hand till I make thine enimies thy footstoole This is the horn of our saluation in whom our fathers trusted and were counted iust Hebr. 11. as it is manifest in the epistle to the Hebrues where a whole chapter is spent in reciting their faith the learning wherof I refer to the diligence of the reader seeing it is a full record of all the ancient fathers beleef This is the Lord of al mankind for he hath purchased vs all by the offering vp of his body and sheading of his blood to free vs from these links of sinne wherin we are intangled through Adam And therfore he hath now full power to say Math. 25. Com ye blessed of my father and inherit euerlasting life or go ye cursed into vtter darknes where shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth And as we were then bound with the chaines of sinne growing in our carnall bodies stirring vs vp to do the will of the flesh so are we at this day being rid out of those bands by the death and passion of our Lord bound likewise to him in spirit to serue and obey him as obedient seruants looking for no reward by desert but by his meer fauour and mercy inheritance with him of life eternal Therfore is he Lord ouer kingdoms and nations and there is no higher power than that which the
are meant all the Babylonians Medes Persians and Assyrians his posterity So vnder Heber is signified all his posterity the Hebrues and consequently the Iewes of whom Christ rose a naturall branch So from time to time their policy hath been to erect an earthly monarch by daily persecutions of the Church against their own spirituall consciences and by a catholike persecution of the church to exalt their catholike tyranny in steed of the Church Neither can I see them iustly called Catholiks except for the vniforme massaker of true Christians Now therfore least we should mistake this Christ by ignorance of his death our beleef is a consonant speech most diuinely composed for our vnderstanding that we may as well perceiue the certainty of his passion as of his incarnation wherfore it is necessarily mentioned in our beleef his conception his incarnation his passion the manner of his passion and the end therof Touching his conception and incarnation I haue before spoken touching the certainty of his passion his very enimies confesse that such a Christ came according to the prophets and suffered for their chronicles and ancient monuments of time say no lesse Notwithstanding they wilfully mistook him and abandoned him for a false Christ. That Pilate was a Roman the Romans themselues confesse and that he had such an office they do not deny and that such a Christ at the same very time suffered vnder his hands for their owne sakes they must conclude if they at all hope for saluation in him Hitherto I find not one idle word to be spared as friuolous or improper concerning our Christian faith and it is most euident that if any of these words had been omitted or for breuity sake not penned of necessity they must had beene deliuered and taught for the better vnderstanding of our beleefe HE WAS CRVCIFIED This was the manner of death that he was put vnto by Pilate the curse of the law for by the Iewes owne law Cursed is he that hangeth on the true Deut. 21. 23. But Christ bought vs from the curse Gal. 3. 13. being made a curse for vs that now in the true seed of Abraham all nations of the earth the sonnes of Iaphet might be blessed by the God of Sem and that Iaphet and Sem might now dwell togither Nay the Iewes made this curse more reprochfull in Christ than by the law otherwise could be deuised For the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be fastened to the crosse far and very hainously exceedeth the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be hanged Gal. 3. 13. as Saint Paul vseth it to the Galathians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hanged vpon a tree and according to Saint Mathewes exposition Math. 22. 40. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by these two commandements hang the law and the prophets But to shew their most outragious malice they cried crucify him crucify him which is to say Naile him naile him to the tree Neither can the washing of Pilats hands before the people Math. 27. 24. make his guiltines vnguilty they thought that they could not vse him too hardly For they made account heerby to see him do many great miracles as he had done before insomuch that they assaied him with all temptations not considering that his time was finished and that he was to enter the Ark of saluation as a new Noah sauiour of the world Neither did they regard the limits of his manhood but scourged him buffeted him spit on him and pierced his sides They mocked him Math. 27. 40. saying He that destroied the temple and built it againe in three daies let him saue himself their blindnes did not comprehend the temple of a second Salomon the body of Christ a second Adam which should within three daies be destroied and built againe to stand for euer and euer iust the distance of old Adams natural yeeres from the foundation of the first temple so proceeded they still to tempt him euen with extremity of anguish to his soule and mortall torments to his body when most patiently he crieth Math. 27. 46. ELI ELI LAMMA SABACTA NI My God Psal. 22. 2. my God why hast thou forsaken me but they vnderstood him not and soon after he gaue vp the ghost * and died And his soule left the vaile of his fleshly body at the consummation of all Math. 27. 51. the vaile of the temple rent from the top to the bottom 2. Chron. 3. 14. shewing that the high sacrificer was not from thencefoorth yeerly to enter in to make oblation and attonement for the sinnes of the people but that Christ being once offered vp for all was made high sacrificer for al to abrogate all ceremoniall priesthood of the law and therfore was he called a high sacrificer for euer Psal. 110. 4. after the order of Melchizedek Hebr. 7. his office was so far aboue the Leuites as Melchizedek excelled Aaron the one being only high sacrificer vnder the law the other an old paterne of priesthood before the law whom Christ was to imitate that in the appointed time he might take away and abolish the ceremonies of the law and make reconciliation for the sins of the people by his death Hebr. 2. 17. seeing he was sent as another Moses a brief expositor of the law that they that beleeued not in him their condemnation might bee iust DEAD This word sheweth the end of his passion that it was euen vnto death neither might this word be spared for he might suffer vnder Pontius Pilate and be crucified yet not vnto death and might had been by the interruption of passion void of death at all Wherfore this is necessarily added WAS CRVCIFIED DEAD That we cannot think he suffered fantastically or that he suffered in vaine for at his expiration he was said to be dead He died that day wherin Adam fell being with vs a friday which was the Iewes saboth euen that he might performe and finish to vs the long promised and liuely saboth which through the fall of Adam we had need of A most fine note that we became bound and free in one day the interruption of time being 3960 yeeres or therabouts Heer we may wel perceiue the eternity yea the euerlasting memory of the Lords counsell and prouidence What end is there of his wisedom Who can imagine a greater wisedom than this which is to search the tokens and figures of this Christ his most certaine comming It is a true pathway to Gods knowledge and teacheth vs to imitate him in spirit and truth and to ground our beleef according to that knowledge of him now com Verily it is much to be lamented that these things are so smoothly ouerpassed of many and so little regarded of any by the which the Lord had such pleasure to foreshew his sonne vnto the Iewes now for our aedification insomuch that by most diligent obseruation of the same they haue continually penned large volumes in the
neither 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 far vnder for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 far aboue nor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all the earth for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all the heauens But if S. Paul had meant that he descended to the place of the damned he would had said that he descended far vnder all the earth or as the Epistle of Iude mentioneth vnder darknes Iude. where the condemned angels are reserued in euerlasting chaines making a certain analogy of his ascension and descension But Saint Paul was to speake of Christs going downe into the lower parts of the earth to say the bowels of the earth to vanquish death wherwith his humanity was imprisoned as the sonnes of Adam and of his going vp aboue all the heauens to win life and possesse inheritance for all his chosen Therfore by his descension was not meant the place of euerlasting torment but as a man should say he went downe into the parler of the earth to put off his humanity and put on diuinity to put off corruption and put on incorruption to put off mortality and put on immortality and lastly to put off death and cloath himselfe with life to wit that he might be a body in all respects as before but freed from the bands of the flesh shewing plainly the maner of our resurrection toward as it is said 1. Cor. 15. 2◠Christ is risen from the dead and became the first fruits of them that sleepe for as by man came death so also by man shall all be made aliue and as in Adam all men dy so by Christ shall all men reuiue But of his resurrection and ascension shall be said more in due place only this a little to shew to what end he descended which was to destroy death in his owne body that was the last enimy to be destroied 2. Cor. 15. 26. Wherfore he being no more in subiection vnto death hath the only power vnder his father to destroy death in vs quick and dead that beleeue at his next comming for as the resurrection to come of flesh is of two kindes one from life to life and the other from death to life Behold we shall not all sleep 1. Cor. 15. but we shall all be changed so Christ was to signify in his death the nature of both It is manifest that he rose as they that shall not sleep for his bones and flesh perished not neither had the wormes hold on him it also appeereth that he was changed as they that sleep for he rose out of the belly of the earth within three daies euen so long was Ionah in the whales belly Seeing then death was his last enimy and all things were put in subiection vnder him saue death it is plaine that by his death which was the conquering of death he finished all that might be expected of him for the saluation of mankind Then as the article followeth HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD We must vnderstand and be sure heerby that he came first downe to the dead which is to say into the earth that bringeth foorth all things to death as if a man should say the mother or the very state of death which in Hebrue is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sheolah or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sheol PETITIO or POSTVLATIO the graue alwais crauing neuer satisfied according to the parable of Agur Prou. 30. 1◠Three things yea also the fourth will not be satisfied the graue the barren wombe the earth with raine and the fire that saith not it is ynough Heer is declared the plain and naturall force of that same word with the Hebrues which we call hell the graue This sheol both all and some confesse to be the lowest place of his descension and as concerning the vnderstanding of the Hebrue in Greeke it is translated 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 TANQVAM AB OBSCVRITATE from whence the Romans had AEDES vsed for a house a church or a graue a place of darknes the habitation wherof is depriued of the light of heauen So that the word Hades is a word agreeing with the other and are translated ech for other both signifying the state of death or sepulchre of the dead The Syrians inuented gehenna it seemeth from Ieremy And they built the high places of Baal Ierem 32. 35. which are in the vally of Ben-hinnom to cause their sonnes and daughters to passe through the fire vnto Molech an abhomination to the Lord and a sin to Iudah Ierem ◠31. And againe They haue built the high place of Topheth which is in the vally of Benhinnom to wit Ghe-hinnom the vally of Hinnom neer Ierusalem the portion of his inheritance that they might burne their sonnes and daughters in the fire Therfore behold the day commeth saith the Lord that it shall no more be called Topheth nor Ghe-hinnom the vally of Hinnom but Ghe-haregah the vally of slaughter for they shall bury in Topheth till there be no place I suppose that our westerne bonfires do taste of this idolatry or at the least haue remained as a relique of that ceremony vnto this day which the Pope hath conueied heertofore throughout all his dominions Now concerning the situation of Ghe-hinnom Hinnom his inheritance Ios. 15. 8. it was on the south side of the Iebusites and the same is Ierusalem This sufficeth for Topheth in the vally of Hinnom Gehenna The heathen Latines haue as far as they could reach borrowed names for the like place Virgil. as EREBVS of the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 TENEBRAE CALIGO NOX or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the dark night the night that all must sleep Horat. HAEC ENIM NOX EST OMNIBVS DORMIENDA So likewise TARTARVS or TARTARA the profundity of the earth as it is said Hesiod 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the riuers of the swift Ocean Hom. ◠and bottom of the earth So STYX INFERNORVM PALVS a riuer for his deadly and horrible coldnes so called ORCVS of the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 IVSIVRANDVM an oth for in this place they vsed their exorcismes and coniurations AVERNVS or AVERNA a lake in Campania dedicated to Pluto Phlegithon a place where the earth is set on fire by lightning So Pluto Denat booke 2. deorum whom Cicero calleth Dis to whom all naturall and earthly force was dedicated whom the Greeks cal 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the Syrians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mammona rich presuming that he had the keeping of all the riches that sprang out of the earth and returned to the earth againe wherby they thought him treasurer of hell and Lord of Hades Acheron is a place by nature so enuironed with hils that it cannot be toucht with lightning Seeing therfore all their fained circumstances so aptly agree with Hades let vs learne with Homer to vnderstand the word Hades aright Iliad A. where he saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 speaking of Achilles that his fury sent
therfore in these words consisteth the perfection of the church the members of Christ which is the rock and foundation therof For had not the Iewes had a perfect warning of redemption to come through the Messiah sauiour of the world and the full meanes therof and of all that he was to perform for the saluation of mankind how could they take notice of their redemption or be iustly condemned for misbeleef for they that liued in the time of Christs humanity were to see that which their fathers hoped for If then we will further know what ought the substance of our faith to be I answer in a word Our faith ought to be the haruest of our fathers hope so that we beleeue that we haue receiued that which they hoped for so through one faith in one Iesus they and we are both saued Isai. 53. 8. Who shall declare his age for he was cut out off the land of the liuing Heer my purpose was to shew that this article might safely be vsed without aduātage to the Papists or offence to such as I before meant Therfore as we now see with our eies and beleeue that Iesus the true Christ came and finished his pilgrimage heer on earth being the only begotten sonne of God conceiued by the holy Ghost born of the virgine Mary crucified according to the prophets so what he was to do he himself declared to the fathers in spirit insomuch that they also saw their saluation by the eie of faith which they had in the same Messiah Colos. 1. 18. the first born of the dead and of al things to haue the preheminence He is the reconciliation of all the world and euen as his father spred the heauens and adorned them and created the earth and sea with all the implements so is the sonne commaunder of all and the beginning and end of all things are in his hand he is made iudge of all flesh comming as it were in the meane time to reconcile the limits and to constraine all nations to worship him He was made all one with the father the beginning of the world and the last end must ply vnto him from whom al sentence of ioy eternall or perpetuall misery shall proceed and to this end he preached in spirit long before he was incarnated Gen. 6. 3. The Lord said And my spirit shal not alwaies striue with flesh and his daies shall be an hundred and twenty yeeres 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is to say 1. Pet. 3. 19. By which also he went and preached to the spirits in prison which were somtime disobedient when the long suffering of God waited in the daies of Noah while the ark was in making Your father Abraham reioiced to see my daie Ioh. 8. 56. and he saw it and was glad Suppose saith Peter 2. Pet. 3. 15. that the long suffering of the Lord is saluation euen so our brother Paul according to the wisdom giuen to him wrote vnto you Doest thou the same Rom. 2. 3. and thinkest to escape iudgement and despisest thou the riches of his bountifulnes and patience and long sufferance not knowing that the bountifulnes of God leadeth to repentance Wherfore as by one man sinne entred into the world Rom. 5. 12. and death by sinne so death went ouer all men for vnto the time of the law was sinne in the world but sinne is not imputed while there is no law Gal. 3. 17. The law fower hundred and thirty yeeres after the promise cannot disanull the couenant God gaue the promise to Abraham but death reigned from Adam to Moses euen on them also that sinned not after the maner of Adams transgression which was as a figure of the second Adam Seeing then before the law all men were dead in sinne without any hope of iustification to eternall life it was most needfull that the Gospell should be preached vnto them 1. Pet. 4. 6. Wherupon it seemeth Saint Peter continueth his speech of preaching to this end was the Gospell preached also to the dead that they might be condemned according to men in the flesh but might liue according to God in the spirit Now this is plaine that whoso were vnder the law were condemned by the law according to the flesh By this all men vnder the law were iudged by the law But seeing the dead were before the law howbeit many righteous men to whom the promise was giuen were iustified by faith they were not to be iudged or condemned by the law but by the spirit of Christ that preached vnto them while they were in the prison of death that they might beare fruit in the resurrection also otherwise should they be born without adoption in Christ at all like as the cloudes are congealed and melt againe to nothing or as the wind passeth through the aire and no man marketh it so without law or grace should they perish without conscience which the Atheists now adaies would soon graunt But their iudgement long ago is not far off 2. Pet. 2. 3. and their condemnation sleepeth not They are wels without water and clouds caried about with a tempest to whom the black darknes is reserued for euer Now if we doubt that Christ did preach in the spirit before he came in the flesh let vs consider the Epistle of Saint Iude Iude. vers 9. where is said touching blaspheming of authority Yet Michael the Archangel Christ when he stroue against the diuell about the body of Moses durst not blame him with cursed speaking but said The Lord rebuke thee Mark then this Michael was a cheef Angell yea more than an Angell Apoc. 12. 5. as the Reuelation sheweth also There was a battell in heauen Michael and his Angels fought against the Dragon and the Dragon and his angels fought but they preuailed not neither was their place found any more in heauen And the great Dragon that old serpent called the Diuell and satan which deceiueth all the world he was euen cast into the earth and his angels were cast out with him Heer Christ the seed of the woman brused the serpents head This Michael is the man-child that was borne to rule all nations with a rod of iron Psal. 2. 9. and break them in peeces like a potters vessell Diuers times is this Michael spiritually mentioned through the old and new Testament Dan. 10. 12. Lo Michael a cheef prince holpe me and there is none that holdeth with me Dan. 10. 22. but Michael your prince Dan. 12. In that day shall Michael stand vp the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people And in the same place Lo Michael one of the cheef princes cam to help me Wherfore it is to too absurd for vs to think that a king hauing banished an offender for punishment into a most desolate place of the world to remaine there for euer would himselfe go after to obteine greater power ouer him For what
greater subiection can there be than for euer yea for euer and euer to abide a slauish vassall in all seruitude horror trembling Therfore suppose not that the Holy one saw other corruption than in flesh for he droue the prince of darknes into a corner where the sink of all corruption is Now what perfection he could draw out of this sink that he himself had cursed let the consciences of all men try and iudge and be warned with Peter that they defile not the things that the Lord hath purified and that they cleaue not so fast to corruption as to peruert the Lords waies and besot their own vnderstanding Concerning the word Apoc. 6. 8. Hell it is written Behold a pale horse and his name that sate on him was Death and Hell followed after him and power was giuen to them ouer the fourth part of the earth to kill with sword and with hunger with death and with the beasts of the earth Heer we see that our expositors plainly take Hel for the graue that is alwaies woont to follow after death Pet. 2. 13. So when the day of the Lord shall come by which the heauens being on fire shall be dissolued and the elements shall melt away with heat and a new heauen and a new earth established wherin dwelleth righteousnes Apoc. 21. 1. and the first heauen and the first earth passed away and when the Lord shall creat new heauens and a new earth and the former not remembred For Isai. 65. 19. saith the Lord as the new heauens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before me Isai. 66. 22. so shall your seed and your name continue and from moneth to moneth and from sabaoth to sabaoth shall all flesh come to worship before me saith the Lord and they shall go forth and looke vpon the carkases of men that haue transgressed for their worm shall not dy neither shall their fire be quenched and they shall be an abhorring vnto all flesh This is the miserable condition of the wicked ones the second death the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone Apoc. 2. 8. at the opening of the books the resurrection of all flesh which is to say when the sea death and Hell shall giue vp their dead Apoc. 20. 1. which are in them and they shall bee iudged according to their works then both death and Hell which haue all this while had power ouer flesh to cut it off from inheritance of this life through the curse shall at the last resurrection be vanquished to all flesh and cast into the burning lake by our Lord sauiour Iesus Christ our forerunner In this world shall the cursed endure his damnation and the happy shall feel his blessednes He that liueth in this world an hundred yeeres shall dy a yoong man neither shall any be called a child of yeers but he that buildeth in this world shall inhabit and they that plant vineyards shall eat of the fruit neither shall they plant and another eat but they shal inioy the works of their own hands and shall not be made to labour in vaine and bring foorth in fear for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord and their buds with them Yet concerning his descension remaineth this one thing he made his graue with the wicked with the â—ich in his death though he had done no wickednes neither was any deceit in his mouth Now in that it is said he made him a graue he chose him a place in the earth whereinto he vouchsafed to descend and be buried for our saluation though many wicked and rich men lay as glorious as he whom the cell of the earth was far vnworthy to conteine Dan. 12. 2. Where the many that sleep shall awake to euerlasting life and some to shame and perpetuall contempt Againe that he was buried and descended also into hell read the ancient Christian meaning of the word Hell in the example of the rich man written by Luke the Euangelist translated into Saxonish many yeeres ago which saith thus ha peand re peleza dead and paer on Hell bebynzed which is now as much as to say And the rich man died and was buried in hel I should think it very absurd therfore farther to vrge any comment or exposition for the word Hell seeing no doubt these expositors of the Gospels sufficiently vnderstood what they said in their owne language Nay whosoeuer will not yeeld vnto so plain a testimony of truth the mark of controuersie he may be thought little zealous yea obstinate in his own profession Now of such as would haue Hell to be in the earth and to meane the place of the damned and would prooue it by the word Luk. 16. 26. Gulf that was betweene Abraham and the rich man the worde in the Greek originall is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 HIATVS FISSVRA a gap or cliffe as Virgil citeth the word properly foorth of Homer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 TELLVS IMA DEHISCAT Let the earth cleaue But we vnderstand the word Gulf a concaue and a deuouring place which is hardly argued by the circumstance following seeing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signify neither vp nor downe but passing ouer as it were from shore to shore as TRANSCENDERE and TRANSRIMARE agreeing with the prophets words before recited they shall go foorth and look vpon the carcases of men c. And beside Saint Iohn proueth a further punishment to insue after death and hell which is to say the burning lake Let vs absteine therfore farther to inquire of the places which the Lord hath shut vp from vs and our vnderstanding For saith the Lord Gen 3. 22. Behold the man is becom as one of vs to know good and euill And now least he put forth his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat and liue for euer therfore the Lord God sent him foorth from the garden of Eden to till the earth whence he was taken And the Lord hath set Cherubims and the blade of a sword shaking to keep the way of the tree of life Heer we see that the iealous God excluded Adam out of the garden least he should attain to see the state of the eternall Wherfore the plaine and open things are for vs and our children to obserue and do but the secret and hidden things pertaine vnto God only The prophet Ionah was a most excellent figure of our sauiour if a man do diligently mark his prophesie 2. King 14. 25. First his name signifieth a doue in the Hebrue voice in the likenes wherof Iesus receiued the spirit of his father from heauen wher he himself confesseth Math. 3. 16. that he saw the heauens open and the spirit of God descending like a doue Psal. 74. 16. and lighting vpon him the true turtle doue whose soule the beast had neuer power of Ionah his message was to
preach so Christ Ionah willingly suffered shipwrack Iona. 1. 12. for the safety of the ship and mariners Christ willingly indured the curse for the saluation of the earth and the inhabitants therof Ionah was in the belly of the fish three daies and three nights so long was the son of man to be in the belly of the earth Ionah descended into the belly of hell for saith he I cried in mine affliction vnto the Lord and he heard me out of the belly of hel cried I and thou heardest my voice Which hel is heer nothing else but the vale of death and extreme mist of darknes wherinto our sauiour also descended for the same space Ionah arose and went to Niniueh to finish his message of preaching Christ arose likewise and ascended into heauen to consummate all his fathers will after he had once yeelded vp his spirit into his hands Math. 17. 50. and had destroied the temple of his body and built it againe in three daies Ionah had pity on the gourd for which he had not laboured neither made it grow which came vp in a night and perished in a night so dealeth Christ with his adopted members taking pity euen of the meere fruits of darknes whose beginning and end is not to be discerned of men for they abide not the light that truth loueth THE THIRD DAY HE ROSE AGAIN He walked the path of life euen to the presence of his father Psal. 16. 10. the fulnes of ioy at whose right hand are pleasures for euermore which path he hath also shewed to vs his followers whose flesh yet doth rest in hope Let vs therfore perceiuing the mortality of our vaile euen for his sake striue to enter into that path how narrow or straight soeuer it seemeth the crooked and hard waies are passed with care and fear to eternall ioy but the wide and easie waies in this life leade to destruction and pull vs hastily to condemnation and euerlasting woe in the world to come Our sauiour Christ by his power which he receiued of his father in heauen could destroy the temple and build it againe in three daies Iohn 2. 1◠as he said Destroy this temple pointing at his body and I will build it in three daies Which is a very fine and perfect exposition of the rock where he saith Thou art Peter and vpon this rock pointing to himself I will build my Church but the blind Iewes vnderstood not of what temple he spake albeit he had called it so neither will the Papists vnderstand of what rock he spake albeit it was his name long before His power was so infinite not only in framing to himselfe a new body Math. 27. but to many other that slept in the dust of the earth Dan. 12. such was his will to manifest his attractiue power to all flesh that hopeth for the resurrection in the world to com when the time of recreation of all flesh shall appeer Psal. 17. Wherfore stay our steps continually O Lord in these thy paths that our feet slide not and deliuer vs from the hands of such as haue their portion in this life Concerning his resurrection Saint Paul testifieth at large how that he died for our sinns according to the scriptures and that he was buried and rose againe the third day 1. Cor. 15. and that he was seen of Cephas then of the twelue after that he was seen of more than fiue hundred brethren at once of whom many at that time remained as a confirmation of his testimony the rest being asleep After that he was seen of Iames and then of all the Apostles and last of all of him Which chapter I intreat the diligent reader to turn to bicause it wholy concerneth this article For it prooueth the resurrection of the dead and that Christ is already risen then that we all shall rise and the manner how Wheras for me to make a new frame of the same texts adding nothing but forme to my purpose were meer arrogancy or rather as Saint Paul saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and might seem vnto the reader as the hony of one bee in comparison of a whole field of sweet flowers In many other places where the whol Psalm chapter or book cōcerneth the matter in handling I refer the reader to the ancientest testimonies therof whether it be of prophets Euangelists or Apostles which were the neerest recorders of that time FROM THE DEAD Which is to say them that sleep for whom Saint Paul willeth vs not to lament as others that are clean without hope for saith he as we beleeue that our Iesus died and rose againe so our God through Iesus will bring againe those that sleep with him for the Lord shall come downe from heauen with a showt and the voice of the Archangle 1. Thes. 4. 13. and with the trumpet of God and those that be dead shall rise first and then those which remaine aliue shall be carried vp with them in cloudes to meet the Lord in the aire and so shall we all be with the Lord. Also he taught his disciples Mark 9. 3. that he should rise againe the third day and after I am risen I will go into Galile before you Mark 14. 28. His ascension in this place is little to be spoken of bicause by his descension it hath sufficiently appeered by the contrary argument yet thus much he testifieth Iohn 7. 34. saying Whither I go you cannot in the flesh come In my fathers house are many mansions if there were not I would declare vnto you I go to prepare a place for you Let not your harts be troubled ye beleeue in God beleeue also in me Though I go to prepare a place for you I will come againe and receiue you vnto my selfe that where I am there may you also be and whither I go you know and the way you know For it is I that am the way the truth and the life No man commeth to my father but by me Iohn 14. if yee had knowen me you should had knowen my father also and from hencefoorth ye know him and haue seen him Moreouer he saith to Mary Iohn 20. 17. Touch me not for I am not yet ascended to my father but go to my brethren and say to them I ascend to my father and to your father and to my God and your God Heer he most comfortably becommeth brother vnto vs acknowledging his father and ours to be all one through his precise and faultlesse obseruation of his fathers will After that he had breathed vpon his disciples the holy Ghost Iohn 20. 22. and at the sea of Tyberias comforted them againe with his presence he was taken vp in a cloud out of their sight and while they looked stedfastly towards heauen as he went two men stood by them in white apparell Acts. 1. 9. which said Ye men of Galile why stand yee gazing into heauen This
come to a safe port so if by the weaknes of the spirit you wend with the tempest of the world doing the will of the flesh then haue you also before your eies the points of hope patience and prosperity the direct course vnto the holy land where ye shall arriue and anchor more safe than sowls in their nests Luke 9. 58. or foxes in their holes yea or any treasure in the depth of the earth for all such things in the day of iudgement shall shew foorth their owne property and be reuealed vnto the eies of the liuing at which day shall be the haruest wherunto the tares also are reserued as well as the wheat This is the land that is more worth than all kingdoms heer is the plentifull field that multiplieth so manifold this is the field of hid tresure Math. 13. the pearle of great price the draw-net that gathereth of all kinds the fruitfull senuy and the sauory leuen The heires of this kingdom shall shine as the sunne thus much concerning the comforter that guideth the chosen to saluation Now touching the catholike church If we beleeue in the catholike church we bring a curse vpon vs for the church are the members of Christ their head not cleer from sinne bicause the old man remaineth yet in them and saith the prophet Cursed is the man that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arme One man may haue a sympathy with another vntill perfection shall come by grace Also if we beleeue in the catholike church we lessen the power of God our father of Christ our sauiour and of the holy spirit our comforter to whose power no perfection is wanting for it made vs perfectly it saueth vs assuredly and most intirely releeueth and comforteth vs daily Which creation saluation and consolation the holy catholike church so far relieth on as is needfull for any one member of the same should we presume then to be made holy bicause they are holy or saints by beleeuing in the holy members of the church or will we all be catholikes one by one bicause we all make one catholike church No there is no saint but he whom the spirit sanctifieth nor any catholike but the church which is the composition of many members into one catholike and perfect body of Christ the head through the holy Ghost the spouse of the Annointed Psal. 45. The holy city of God Ierusalem came downe from heauen prepared as a bride trimmed for hir husband Apoc. 21. 2. I will shew the bride the lambes wife read the whole chapter Concerning the new citie Ierusalem the church holy catholike or vniuersall on earth This is the vineyard of red wine Isai. 27. 2. that the Lord hath kept so daintily and watred euery moment least any assaile it This hath the Lord set as a signe on the mountaines for all the inhabitants of the earth Isai. 18. 3. that when he bloweth the trumpet they might heare yea vpon mount Sion bloweth he and the most base and vile nations repaire vnto his name Isai. 26. 1. This is the strong city whose bulworks are saluation and in whose wals consisteth the whole strength of Iudah This church hath none other foundation but Christ and the faith which we haue in him 1. Cor. 3. 11. the true rock that followed the host Math. 16. Wherfore we are Gods laborers 1. Pet. 2. 4. his husbandry 1. Cor. 10. 4. and his building If any man lay other foundation than this Exod. 17. 6. the fire shall try of what sort it is Num. 20. 10. and if any mans work abideth he shall receiue wages but if his work burne he shall lose his labour Againe know ye not that ye are the temple of God and the spirit of God dwelleth in you This much hath shewed that we are the very temple of God founded vpon Iesus Christ of which the holy Ghost is minister and dwelleth in vs. Which temple if any man destroy God the builder will destroy him for the temple of God is holy More concerning this point read the whole third chapter of the first Epistle to the Corinthes this temple of the Lords was sanctified in old time yea euen when he dwelt in no house 2. Sam. 6. 6. but walked in a tent or tabernacle leading his seruant Moses though the wildernes with the children of Israel euen as a shepherd leadeth his sheep Such was his tender mercy toward his possession at that time that in fower hundred and fowerscore yeeres he dwelt in tents and tabernacles and his arke remained within the curtaines Then Salomon built a temple for his name against the comming of Shiloh then to be sent Iesus Christ the very foundation wals and borders of the catholike church gathering togither a communion of saints by the holy Ghost a most comfortable minister in the same Therfore there is no catholike but the Lords building which is the common passion of the members of Christ. And we are not to beleeue in the catholike church of which our selues are members but we beleeue that we be of the catholike church and that we are part of the Lords husbandry and building vpon his sonne Iesus Christ the rock euen the foundation that was reuealed by God the father vnto Peter For when doubt arose who he should be Peter confidently answered Thou art that Christ the sonne of the liuing God and Iesus answered and said vnto him Blessed art thou Simon the sonne of Ionah for flesh and blood hath not reuealed this vnto thee but my father which is in heauen and also I say Thou art Peter and vpon this rock will I build my church and the gates of hell shall not ouercome it Heer met I somthing concerning the catholike errors of the Popish church that make PETROS PETRA PETRA ROMA and ROMA CATHEDRA PETRI which in a word may be easily confuted for Peter at the pronuntiation of the words Thou art Peter c. was in the coasts of Caesarea Philippi Tetrarchae far from Rome neither was it euer spoken of by any testimony now of sixe hundred yeeres old that Peter was at Rome only a new opinion of that church hath of late inueterated Concerning the word Rock all rocks of saluation are spiritually taken Psal. 18. 3. as Dauid saith The Lord is my rock and my redeemer And in another place it is said Tzuri shaddai My rock is the all-sufficient but this is meant of our sauiour a rock of saluation seeing vpon it he will build his church a temple not made with hands therfore of necessity must this rock be taken spiritually as a reuelation of God from heauen to Peter of his sonne Iesus Christ which was the faith of Peter when he said Thou art the annointed the sonne of the liuing God And vpon this faith will Christ build his church so sure as vpon a rock neuer to be mooued Psal. 123. for they that trust in the
Lord as mount Sion cannot be mooued the gates of hell shall not preuaile against the building on this rock for the true faith in Christ shall continue for euer yea euen as an euerlasting building that the fire neither wasteth nor consumeth There was no cause why Peter should haue receiued a speciall blessing but in regard of his reuelation from God for it is said Happy art thou bicause my father hath shewed thee this Vpon this rock will I build my church and the gates of hel shall not preuaile ouer it and I will giue thee the keies of the kingdom of heauen and whatsoeuer thou bindest on earth shall be bound in heauen and whatsoeuer thou loosest on earth shall be loosed in heauen Indeed Christ shewed that he himselfe had the keies when he saith very comfortably to Iohn Fear not Apoc. 1. 18. I am the first and the last him that Isai prophesied of which am aliue and was dead and behold I liue for euer and euer verily I haue the keies both of death and hell And in another place Let him that hath eares hear what the spirit saith vnto the churches and write to the angell of the church in Philadelphia Apoc. 3. 7. these things saith the true and holy one that hath the key of Dauid who openeth and no man shutteth who shutteth and no man openeth And in the next verse I know thy works behold I haue giueu before thee an open gate and no man can shut it bicause thou hast little power and thou hast kept my commandements and not denied my name The key of Dauid is manifested vnto vs when he saith Open ye euerlasting doores and the king of glory shall com in Heer was his faith as a key and therfore called the key of Dauid He foresaw the lion of the tribe of Iuda that came of the root of Dauid the lambe of God who was the only in heauen and earth that could open the book and loose the seales Heerby we see that Christ only openeth Apoc. 5. 5. and no man shutteth and shutteth and no man openeth It is plaine by testimony of scripture that there is but one key to open heauen to mankind and that is Christ the king of glory who is entred in and there is no other door-keeper but he Therfore wheras our sauiour saith I will giue thee the keies of the kingdom of heauen that is to say the spirituall knowledge to preach my word which thou didst but now testifie in these words Thou art the annointed the sonne of the liuing God The knowledge heerof is to the beleeuers a key of entrance to life eternall but to the wicked and reprobate vnbeleeuers a key of exclusion to condemnation for euer and such is the binding vp of the faithfull as sheaues into the barne and the loosing or vndoing of the wicked as the stubble to be burnt in vnquenchable fire Otherwise if Christ had giuen him his owne whole authority on earth or had made him porter of the kingdom of heauen no doubt he himselfe in a verse or two after as it seemeth might had lost his inheritance in heauen for if Peter had been able to haue disswaded him Christ had not gone to Ierusalem nor suffered much of the high priests and elders nor been slain nor the third day risen againe Wherby it seemeth that he was as great an enimy to saluation as might be when he said Go not master haue pity on thy self it shall not so com vnto thee Heer fell he so extremely in faith that he receiued a greater rebuke for ignorance Math. 16. 23. than euer Iudas did Get thee behind me sathan for before it seemeth he made him a companion thou art mine offence thou sauorest not of the wisedom of God but of the wit of man wherfore now I am to thee as Isai prophesied Isai. 8. 14. a rock of offence 1. Pet. 2. 8. a stone to stumble at But admit he had been the iustest man that euer was and so liued vntill he should go the way of the fathers yet was not his righteousnes inheritance for it came from God and he could leaue nothing to his posterity that claimeth more than his authority by succession thus much concerning the catholike church THE COMMVNION OF SAINTS I beleeue that there is communion of saints and that I my selfe am one of the communion elected by the spirit through faith in Christ. THE FORGIVENES OF SINNES I beleeue also that there shall be a forgiuenes of sinnes through the passion of Christ as is already shewed by his passion THE RESVRRECTION OF THE DEAD I beleeue there shall be a resurrection of the dead and that I shall rise againe with glory vnto life euerlasting These last articles I handle not in this place bicause each of them is already seuerally prooued in my treatise All that remaineth is to conclude my purpose which was to shew the nature of beleeuing that by the faith of his owne hart euery man is saued what he is to beleeue in the cause why and lastly the vnspeakable comfort that euery true beleeuer hath by his faith in God the father God the sonne and God the holy Ghost to whom be all power ascribed both now and euermore Amen FINIS
and he will teach vs his waies and we will walk in his pathes for the law shall go foorth of Sion and the word of the Lord from Ierusalem The Lord himself will giue you a signe Isai. 7. 14. A virgine shall conceiue a sonne c. butter and hony shall he eat till he haue knowledge to refuse the euill and to choose the good In another place Isai. 9. 6. 7. Vnto vs a child is born and vnto vs a sonne is giuen and the gouernment is vpon his shoulders and he shall call his name wonderfull counseller the mighty God the euerlasting father the prince of peace the increase of his gouernment shall haue none end he shall sit vpon the throne of Dauid and vpon his kingdom to order it and to establish it with iudgement and iustice from hencefoorth for euer The zeale of the Lord of hosts will performe this But there shall come a rod foorth of the stock of Iesse Isai. 11. 1. 10. and a graffe shall grow foorth of his root and in that day the root of Iesse which shall stand vp for a signe vnto the people the nations shall seek vnto it and his rest shall be glorious This then is the most true and comfortable rest for the soules of all them that trust in him Isai. 22. 17. And the work of iustice shall be peace euen the work of iustice and quietnes and assurance for euer and my people shall dwell in tabernacles of peace and in sure dwellings and in safe resting places A voice crieth in the wildernes Isai. 40. 4. prepare ye the way of the Lord make straight in the desert a path for our God euery valley shall be exalted and euery mountaine and hill shall be brought low and the crooked shall be straight and the rough places plaine the glory of God shall be reuealed Isai. 42. 2. Behold saith the Lord I will giue to Ierusalem one that shall bring good tidings behold my seruant saith the Lord I will stay vpon him mine elect in whom my soule delighteth I haue put my spirit vpon him he shall bring forth iudgement to the Gentiles he shall not cry nor lift vp nor cause his voice to be heard in the street a bruised reed shal he not break the smoking flaxe shall he not quench he shall bring foorth iudgement in truth and the Isles shall wait for his law These places assured the Lords redemption vnto all the world as in the same chapter Let them giue glory vnto the Lord and declare his praise in the Islands which whole chapter bicause it so strongly cōcerneth this work let the reader apply it to this place I haue held my peace a long time saith the Lord and refrained my selfe euen a thousand yeeres Apoc. 20. 7. by the which space satan was bound And now I will cry saith the Lord and make mountaines and hils waste and dry vp their herbs Isai. 53. Who will beleeue our reports or to whom is the arme of the Lord reuealed His annointing is prophesied here like wise The spirit of the Lord is vpon me Isai. 61. therfore the Lord hath annointed me he hath sent me to preach good tidings to the poor to binde vp the broken harted to preach liberty to the captiues and to them that are bound the opening of the prison c. What a woonderfull delight had this prophet from time to time to set before the eies of the people the comming of their sauior Iesus yea the whole world was too little to withdraw him from the confidence that hee had already conceiued of his redemption to come This therfore I thought not amisse to lay downe concerning the prophets confidence the rather to strengthen the weake harted and to stay such as should be falling For if the prophet by the ey of faith could assure saluation imminent to the beleeuers of the people how much rather then is it to be required that we by the help of our sensible vnderstanding should not faile of that faith For haue not our ears heard Christs own words Haue not our eies seen the manifestation of him in the flesh Who hath not heard of his works that he did on the earth Math. 1. Who hath not heard of his birth Math. 2. And that he was carried into Egypt Haue we not heard that he was baptized in Iordan Math. 3. Haue we not heard of his fasting Math. 4. preaching and the diuels tempting of him Haue we not heard of his woondrous cures Math. 8. Haue we not heard how he made Apostles to preach Haue we not heard of the feeding of fiue thousand men with three loaues and two fishes Math. 10. and many other miracles which he did Yea surely we haue heard of his passion his descension and ascension also and yet is all this too little to enable our weake spirits to faith except with Didymus we feel or with Nicodemus enter into the wombe againe our wickednes is so great that through faith we can imagine no assured saluation for vs in our God wherupon suddenly we say with the foole Psal. 14. Tush there is no God But wo to them that say to their maker Thou madest me not Shall the vessell say to the potter Thou didst not fashion me or make me excellent or why didst thou not make me honorable as som other of thy workmanship Surely the vessell that inquireth thus shall be dasht and broken in a thousand pieces Is the work better than the workman or whence was the creation of man Psal. 24. Open ye euerlasting doores and the king of glory shall com in Now seeing we haue all heard of this Iesus the sonne of God our redeemer our euerlasting quietnes and rest let vs all study to be rich in the true knowledge of him and therby only to receiue the most glorious comfort of this world First to know assuredly that he the same that was promised came according to the fulnes of time for the saluation of mankinde Bicause he being God begotten of his father before all worlds became man by his father borne in the world whom the world was not woorthy of He became flesh to free and saue vs from our sins Math. 1. 16. and clense vs from our wickednes to translate our corrupt nature into incorruption our mortall seed into immortality and to conclude our vile and vnstable flesh into most pure and steddy spirit to last with him for euer and euer Amen This Iesus is not the sauiour of the spirit and soule after this life only but the preseruer and defender of all that verily trust in him from dangerous mischances or euill fortunes in this world also whatsoeuer as is to be noted in the example of the Iailor first the miraculous meanes of Paul and Silas Acts. 16. 37. their deliuerance out of bands when the doores flew open and their fetters were loosed then Paules aduising of the