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
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
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
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
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
may trust in another or one may aduaunce himselfe aboue his fellowes but the one and the other do both fall Gen. 14. 11. as when the children of Israell murmured against Moses being a man supposing the punishment to be his that was inflicted on them shewing that in their prosperitie they beleeued in him only wherefore they perished infinitely through their misbeleef for as they were obedient to man so died they in their own corruption Otherwise if man could be saued by beleeuing in man or in mans works there is not one that would be disinherited of eternall life and the promise of saluation would seem meerly friuolous Numb 20. 10. Moses and Aaron lifted vp themselues at the rock whose honor was abased by extreme punishment Gen. 10. 8. Nimrod began to be mighty vpon the earth and erected a kingdom by his owne might to wit the cities Babel Erech Accad and Calne Gen. 11. 4. all built in the land of Shinar Who said com let vs build vs a citie and a tower whose top may reach vnto heauen that we may get vs a name lest we be scattered vpon the earth He had spoken more prophetically if he had said that we may be scattered vpon the earth seeing it becam suddenly the cause of their horrible confusion so that they were made as aliens in their country and citie one not vnderstanding anothers language euen so are the arrogant depriued of their glory when their most prouident securitie turneth to destruction By this is shewed what it is to beleeue what manner of creature is bound to beleeue and who are misbeleeuers Now followeth the necessary vse of it and to what end we so constantly vse the same Vnderstand therfore that it is the ioint of all the articles of our faith nay without it can be made no effectuall article at all but all the whole speech becommeth a confused heap of faithlesse syllables By beleeuing we are discerned from Infidels and barbarous people that are as bruit beasts without any hope or knowledge our religious constancy is manifested our bond of amity and league of humane societie sealed It is the fire hammer and touch to purifie mally and try vs it is the winde that diuideth the wheat from the chaff it is a most comfortable meditation in all seasons a salue against all offences and scandals whatsoeuer A man may in his mind beleeue and not vtter it but then cannot his faith appeere vnto his brethren So that he shall becom a stumbling blocke vnto them and thus much for the very protestation of the word Now concerning the end of beleeuing it is to be saued and touching the cause why we must not beleeue in the vanity of the aboue recited powers it is that there is no safetie or saluation in them for man hath no power of his owne saluation neither is any man to put trust in the strength of his owne arme to deliuer him from death We beleeue therfore that the subiect of this our spirituall faith shal liue for euer and that the spirit that now is imprisoned in this our flesh shall mortifie our corrupt members by an vnwauering faith which before it vanisheth to fly vnto that eternall dwelling place may so sanctifie our fowl and sinfull nature that we bee made fit vessels to comprehend eternall life For seeing there is no manner of saluation with flesh wood or stone or any other thing that our earthly senses can perceiue we must inuent a thing subiect to our vnderstanding which being a college or digestion of all senses and meer spirit and life the subiect must be wholy spirituall and liuely Wher then is this subiect to be found for we see it is neither in the treasure of the earth nor in the glory of the world Let vs therfore lift vp our eies vnto heauen and behold the habitation of life the euerlasting author of spirit in all creatures The Greekes termed it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which most like commeth of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an high and prosperous wind among the heathen but in the creation it was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 where the light spirit vapor of waters remaine that seasoneth all liuing creatures in the aire This is the most excellent dwelling place of that ghostly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or euerlasting AEVVM AETAS ALTERNA or AETERNITAS SOLVM EXISTENS God All-good SVMMVM BONVM PRIMVM MOBILE the first thing that mooued the author of al things whose highest seat is heauen Aristot. de mundo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is to wit Gods highest house of the whole world is called heauen Kal. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the firmament of faith Therfore this is that eternall spirit that we are to beleeue in for it is the very issue of all things the breth of his mouth created all maintaineth all yea and destroieth all at his will him are we to worship as Lord of all who in the first toong that men spake gaue himselfe a name declaring his eternity to wit that he was alwaies one and the same Isai 41. 4. infinite without beginning or end IEHOVA who euer was only is and euer shall be whom no time changeth for a thousand yeeres with the Lord is but as one day he himself is the root of time the point therof his beginning is vnsearchable his presence vnmeasurable and his continuance euerlasting in him then we must beleeue that will be saued or delight to liue for euer and euer not liply only in words but with our whole hart and soule duly conceiuing that his infinite maiestie and power that giueth our vnderstanding matter to worke vpon before him standeth the end of all flesh the relaxation of spirit the volubility of all soules is in his power 1. Sam. 2. There is none holy as the Lord nor any God besides him or like him therfore speak no more presumptuously let not arrogancy com forth of your mouth for the Lord is a God of knowledge and by him enterprises are established The bowe and the mighty men are broken and the weake haue girded themselues with strength they that are full are hired foorth for bread and the hungry are no more hired so that the barren hath borne seuen and she that hath many children is feeble The Lord killeth and maketh aliue bringeth downe to the graue and raiseth vp the Lord maketh poor and maketh rich Psal. 113. 7. bringeth down and exalteth he raiseth vp the poor out of the dust and lifteth vp the begger out of the dunghill to set them among princes and to make them inherit the seat of glory For the pillars of the earth are the Lords and he hath set the world vpon them he will keep the feet of his saints and the wicked shall keepe silence in darknes For in his owne might shall no man be strong the Lords aduersaries shall be destroied and out of