of the Sonne of God wherein he washt by faith and was made cleane of the incurable leprosie of sinne So then if ye aske by whose satisfaction merits ye obtaine eternall life the Scripture answereth absolutely that it is by the onely satisfaction and merits of our Lord Iesus Christ o Act. 4.12 Neither is there Saluation in any other for there is none other Name vnder heauen giuen among men whereby we must be saued VII But if we aske to whom this saluation is giuen That is another question where vnto the Scripture maketh another answere and faith as Elizabeth said to the Virgin Marie p Luk. 1.45 Blessed is she that beleeued q 2 Cor. 1.20 All the promises of God in Christ are Yea and in Christ are Amen vnto the glory of God And r Gal. 3.14 we receiue the promise of the Spirit through faith Neither haue we any other hand to receiue Christ who is promised vnto vs but faith Therefore it is written that ſ Eph. 2.8 by grace ye are saued by faith And because our last and principall blessednesse is our saluation it is also written that they which be of faith are blessed with faithfull Abraham t Act. 15.9 The hearts are purified by faith Therefre it is written u Math. 5.8 Blessed are the pure in heart The heart by faith is broken and bruised with the sense of sinne and with x 2 Cor. 7.10 godly sorrow for sinne Therefore it is written y Math. 5.3 Blessed are the poore in spirit Faith looketh vp to heaven with a weeping eye Faith calleth vpon God with prayers steeped in teares Faith stretcheth soorth to the throne of grace hands dipped in the bitter and salt waters of repentance And therefore it is written Blessed are they that mourne If faith did not repent sigh weepe pray repentēce weeping sighing prayer should be sinnes For a Rom. 14.23 whatsoeuer is not of faith is sinne So the teares of Esau were sinnes So when David prayeth against the wicked man b Psal 109.7 Let his prayer become sinne he teacheth vs that prayers of wicked and vnbeleeuing men are sinnes for to such men c Tit. 1.15 nothing is pure but euen their mind and conscience is defiled And what can come from such a puddle but filth and stincking putrefaction h Gal. 5.6 Faith worketh by loue and is rich in good workes Therefore it is written l Psal 1.2 blessed is the man whose delight is the Law of the Lord m Psal 119.1 Blessed are the vndefiled in the way n Psal 128.1 Blessed is euery one that feareth the Lord c. Yee see what persons are blessed And what qualities are required in you if you desire to be partakers of blessednes The first must be faith For o Heb. 11.6 without faith it is impossible to please God From faith springs forrow for sin repentance weeping prayers good workes p Eph. 2.10 which God hath prepared that we should walke in them All those which are adorned and inriched with those good qualities are blessed but the cause wherfore they are blessed is the merite of Christ Iesus in whom they beleeue by whom they pray for whom they weepe and by whose spirit they are lead in the way of the Lord doe good workes For to them q Zech 12.10 that mourne in Ierusalem Zechariah saith that r Zech. 13.1 there shall be a fountaine opened for sinne and for vncleannesse what are not their eyes a fountaine To weepe for sinne they may be To blot out and abolish the slaine of sinne they cannot be The only side of Christ which was pierced in his death was made a fountain of bloud to wash in it the sinnes of all them which to weepe for their sinnes make of their heads a fountaine of teares VIII Therefore when ye read in the Homilies of the Doctors of the Church either auncient or moderne that teares are a satisfaction for sinne that they wash it away and blot it out and many such hyperbolicall speeches yee must vnderstand them f Cum graeno salis with a graine of salt as the Iurisconsults speake of some sayings of their Doctors and know that either they speake of satisfaction giuen to the Church or attribute to the effect that which is proper to the cause which is frequent amongst orators and in speeches gilt and beautified with Rhetoricke Consider that in my text blessednesse is attributed to them which weepe not to weeping to the tree not to the fruit to the worker not to the worke And when yee seeke the causes of your blessednesse looke not downeward to your selues but vpward to the mercie of God and with a sincere heart and true mouth follow the holy Apostle and say t Eph. 1.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ who hath blessed vs with al spirituall blessings in heauenly places in Christ u Rom. 11.36 For of him and through him and to him are all things To whom be glory for euer Amen If yee remember this distinctiō betweene the qualification of the persons which are to be saued the causes wherfore they are saued as also the chāging of attributions when the effects are honoured with the glorious titles which belong to their causes ye wil not easily be seduced with Papistry nor troubled with som speeches which the Doctors vttered hyperbolically which the Papists wrest vnlearnedly which ye must vnderstand x Rom. 12.6 according to the proportion of faith soundly CHAPTER II. I. ALl our comforts are called Life and wherefore II. Item wherefore that life which is our onely comfort is called euerlasting III. What eternall life is IV. T is imperfect in this world and perfect in the world to come V. He that hath not the beginnings of eternall life in this world shal neuer come to the perfection thereof in the world to come I. BVT to leaue of disputing against Papists which is not fit for this day wherin we are assembled to dispute against our owne sinnes and to let alone the hyperbolicall speeches of Doctors let vs come to Christs comforts wherin our blessednesse consisteth Our Blessednesse in holy Scripture is called Life Euerlasting T is called Life not because we shall act liue and moue by it as we doe now during our abode in the earthly tabernacles of our mortall bodies but because it is a most glorious happie and blessed estate our soueraigne good and felicitie the full perforformance of all our desires the longed-for wish of our vnsatiable hearts the center and last resting place of all the agitations of our stirring and vnquiet soules There is nothing that man loueth better then life For how can he loue what can he loue if he liue not Life is the spring of loue life is the enioyer life is the vser of all the things which we loue As we cannot loue without life So life
sinnes Is it not time to begin NOVV if ye have not begun till NOVV II. Behold l Luk. 22.48 Iudas betraying him with a kisse behold m Ioh. 18 12. the Officers binding him as if hee had beene a male factor behold them in the high Priests house n Luk. 22 63 64 65. mocking him smiting him blindfolding him and aftervvards striking him on the face asking him Who is it that smote thee behold them speaking manie other things blasphemously against him o Mat. 26.59.65 66. behold the chief Priests Elders and all the Councell seeking false vvitnesses against him behold them all vvith the high Priest pronouÌ„cing against him their award and last sentence He is guilty of death Novv harts burst Novv eies weepe NOW Christians if there bee any love of Christ if there be any bowels of compassion in you mourne and lament The Sonne of God was bound for you who were slaves that ye might bee set at libertie The Lord of glory was mockt for you who were the divells mocking stocke that ye might bee honoured of God who is your glory The light of the world was blind-folded for you who were darknesse that ye might bee enlightened The righteous was outrageously beaten for you who were unrighteous that ye might be spared The Innocent was condemned for you who were guilty that ye might be absolved Christ suffered all this for you and yet ye weepe not III. Follow him into the Iudgement-Hall Canst thou with an unbroken heart and dry eyes see him p Ioh. 19.1 2. scourged there and his flesh mangled and torne in pieces for thy sake Behold his naked head begirt with a crowne of sharpe thornes O let us us I say who professe to bee members of his body q Pudeat membrum deliciarisub capite spinis coronato O let us be ashamed to sport and to make merry under a head crowned with thornes IV. Goe to the Crosse heed the souldiers nayling to the unfruitfull tree his hands and his feete behold them giving him vineger mingled with gall to drinke in stead of wine consider how they stript him ere he die that hee may dye with more shame listen to all those that passe by and looke on him yee shall see them wagging their heads ye shal hear them reviling him and rayling on him most outrageously There he yeelded up the ghost there his side was pierst there he was made a woefull spectacle and the principall actor of a bloodie and pitifull Tragedy r Mat. 27 45 51. The Sunne could not looke on it it covered it selfe with a black mourning weede and was darkened but our faces shine as if wee had no cause of mourning The earth did quake but we tremble not The rockes rent our hearts are harder than flint stones yea than the most hard Diamonds and cannot be broken The graves were opened our throates alas are open Sepulchers breathing out all filthinesse and rotten words but our soules are graves sealed and shut to all good The dead rose againe we lye dead in trespasses and sinnes without any spirituall motion any feeling of the wrath of God which Christ in the passion of his death suffered for us For Å¿ 1. Pet. 2.24 his owne selfe bare our sinnes in his owne body on the tree There t Esa 53.5 he was wouÌ„ded for our transgressions there he was bruised for our iniquities there there the chastisement of our peace was upon him with his stripes which he received there wee are healed Hee whom the ignominious passion of Christ whom the shedding of his blood whom his cursed death will not wound with a pricking remorse and sting of sin he out of whose eyes the bruising and crushing of his body the sorrow and agony of his soule will not thrust a floud of teares shall never bee mooved by any other argument to mourne and to weep u Plin. hist nat l. 37. c. 4 I lla invicta vis duarum violentissimae naturae reruÌ„ ferri ignÃsque contemptrix hircino rumpitur sanguine The blood of a Hee-goat will beat in peeces the diamond which no heat of fire can melt no hammer of steele can breake What fire will melt what hammer will break our hearts of diamond if the blood of the Lamb of God will not doe it V. Iudas a Reprobate x Mat. 27 3 Iud is which had betraied him when hee saw that he was condemned repented and wept and wee who brag of our elation weep not The Centurion an ignorant Pagan when hee saw what was done when hee considered all the circumstances of his death glorified God saying y Luke 23 47 Certainly this was a righteous man wee that are called Christians wee that boast of the knowledge of God in Christ acknowledge not his righteousnes as wee should seeing wee weep not because hee z 1. Pet. 3 18 suffred for our unrighteousnesse a Luke 23 48 All the people that came together to that sight beholding the things which were done smote their breasts We know all the things that were done every day b Gal. 3.1 Christ is evidently set forth crucified among us by the preaching of the Gospell and yet none of us smiteth his breast c Ezech. 8.14 The idolatrous women of Ierusalem sate weeping for TAMMVS d Plut. de Iside Osiride called by the Greekes OSIRIS the false god of the Aegyptians whom Typhon slue and wee weep not for Iesus Christ who e 1 Iohn 5.20 is the true GOD and eternall life whom the Iewes slue f Plut de cessatione Oraculorum The Divells themselves which were in the Iles of Paxes did mourne at his death when Thamos the Pilot of the ship which was sayling by cried The great Pan is dead Who is the great Pan but hee who is all in all our Lord Iesus Christ The Divells mourned because g Heb. 2 14 through death hee destroyed him that had the power of death that is the Divell their master and them also we mourne not wee I say who were the causes of his death VI. It is written in the Revelat. that h Rev. 1.7 every eye shall see him and they also which pierced him and all kindreds of the earth shall wayle because of him Why shall they wayle because of him because they pierced him O God! have we pierced him are wee guiltie of his death was it not Iudas which betrayed him was it not the Councell of the State of the Church which sent to take him was it not the high-priest which accused him was it not Pilate which condemned him were they not Pilat's souldiers which scourged crowned nailed stript and pearced him What ye ask is true But why did hee suffer mortall men to exercise such cruelties on his innocent person He stood there in our room and what wee deserved that hee suffered Our covetousnesse betrayed him Our anger laide hold on him and tied him Our
oberit Omne desiderium eorum Christus praesens implebit we shall not onely taste how sweet God is but we shall be filled and satisfied with a wonderfull sweetnesse then nothing shall be wanting vnto vs nothing shall hurt vs because Christ by his presence shall fill all our desires V. Be not therefore deceiued for if ye haue not the beginnings of eternall life in this barren wildernesse of your pilgrimage ye shall neuer come to the compleatness thereof in the pleasant and fruitfull land of your rest wherof it is written k Ps 25.13 His soule shall lodge in goodness and his seed shall inherite the earth Obiect not the words which wee reade in the first Epistle of S. Iohn l Ioh. 3.2 It doth not yet appeare what we shall be for he speaketh of the full manifestation and fruition of our blessednesse of the beginnings whereof he writeth in that same Chapter m Vers 14. We know that we haue passed from death vnto life because we loue the brethren Euen as Christ affirmed * Ioh 5.24 Verily verily I say vnto you He that heareth my word and beleeueth in him that sent me hath euerlasting life and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death vnto life Consider and see how by faith in Christ by loue to our brethren for Christ we haue already eternall life and blesse God who hath giuen you faith and loue CHAP. III. I. OVr first comfort and blessednesse in this world is the forgiuenesse of our sinnes II. Which is declared by the example of David III. Who affirmeth that mans blessednesse is the forgiuenesse of his sinnes IV. The same is verified by the example of a woman which was a Sinner V. To obtaine this first degree of blessednes we must be reconciled with our brethren VI. Laudable custome of the Primitiue Church to end their publicke prayers with a kisse VII We must weepe and pray to God one for another for our ownselues VIII Exhortation I. Our first comfort therfore the first degree of eternall life or of our blessednesse in this world is forgiuenesse of sinne Because our first misery is sinne Ye haue heard that eternall life is in God ye heare Isaiah saying a Isa 59.2 Your iniquities haue separated between you and your God And your sinnes haue hid his face from you that he will not heare If then a man be separated from God as he is by sinne his life is gone his blessednesse is lost misery is become his portion and death his inheritance wherfore he cannot be restored to his blessednesse but by forgiuenesse of sin wherby he is reconciled with God receiued againe into his fauour inlightned with the brightnes of his countenance quickned with his life blessed with his grace graced with all his blessings This is the first gate of heauen This is the first entrance into the kingdome of glory Blessed should we be if we could be without sinne Seeing that cannot be because b Iam. 3.2 in many things wee offend all blessed are wee if our sinnes be forgiuen vs. This is known of them onely that know what sinne is and whose eyes godly sorrow changeth into fountains of teares making their hearts to sigh their eyes to weep their tongues to cry incessantly for forgiuenes of sinne which was neuer refused to any that did aske it with a contrite and broken heart Can yee name me one among so many millions of sinners who did weepe before God and lost his teares Who did offer his supplication to the Father of mercies with a sound and single spirit and was reiected Saith he not that c Isa 66.2 He will looke to him that is poore and of a contrite spirit He hath said it and who wil say that he must not or will not doe it II. Which of you is ignorant of Davids sin Was it not most hainous in it selfe Was it not exceeding sinfull horrible aboue measure in such a man who was so many wayes beholden vnto his God Who can tell vs better then himselfe how hatefull it was He confesseth in the fiftie and one Psalme that by it he had lost the fauour of his Sauiour and fallen from the heauen of all felicitie into the hell of all misery and therefore feeling the damnation wherein he was ingulsed and desiring to recouer the saluation which he had lost he maketh with moaning and mourning this true confession to Nathan whom the Lord had sent to rebuke him d 2 Sam. 12.13 I haue sinned against the Lord. And knowing that a confession made to a mortall man was not sufficient to repaire one offence committed against the immortall God he rūneth straight to the throne of grace he couereth his bodie with sackcloth hee sprinckleth dust and ashes vpon his head hee taketh the apparell the countenance the words of a prisoner at the Bar of a malefactor condemned to die He cryeth with many teares to his Iudge e Psal 51.1 Haue mercie vpon me O God Scarcely is the word out of his mouth when God who knew the desire of his heart blessed him with this comfortable answer vttered by a man but proceeding from the bowels of mercie from mercies owne selfe The Lord also hath put away thy sin Thou shalt not die Then his heart was filled with ioy then his bruised bones were healed and moistned with the marrow of gladnesse then his face shined then his eyes were two glistering diamonds between his browes Then he leapt then hee triumphed then he sang When I sinned I was miserable Now my sinnes are forgiuen me and I am blessed III. Then f Rom 4.6.7.8 he described the blessednesse of the man vnto whom God imputeth righteousnes without workes saying g Psal 32.1.2 Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiuen whose sinnes are couered Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sinne h August in Psal 31. Conc. 2. He saith not blessed are they in whom no sinnes are found but whose sinnes are couered Sinnes are they couered They are abolished If God hath couered our sinnes noluit aduertere he would not behold them Si noluit aduertere noluit animaduertere If he would not be hold them he would not take notice of them Si noluit animaduertere noluit punire if he would not take notice of them he would not punish them Noluit agnoscere maluit ignoscere Hee would not know them he choosed rather to forgiue them Oh consider I pray you this example and this saying of David He had great store of riches he was mightie in force he ouerpeered all men in wisedome God had put on his head a crowne of fine gold he was peaceable at home victorious and triumphant abroad he had wise Captaines valiant Souldiers faith full Serjeants obedient Subjects His children were like Oliue plants round about his Table no worldly Commodities were wanting to his desires and loe they are dung vnto him Loe he
our prayers are not accepted of God till we be reconciled to our brethren This is Christs lesson saying z Mat. 5.23 24. If thou bring thy gift to the altar there remembrest that thy brother hath ought against thee Leaue there thy gift before the altar and goe thy way first be reconciled to thy brother and then come and offer thy gift The second that we must forgiue them which trespasse against vs This Lesson also hath Christ our good Doctor taught vs not onely * Mat. 18.32 by the Parable of the wicked seruant who was punished because he shewed no mercy to his fellow but also in proper words when he giueth vs this warning * Luk. 17.3.4 Take heed to your selues If thy brother trespasse against thee rebuke him and if he repent forgiue him And if he trespasse against thee seauen times in a day and seuen times in a day turne againe to thee saying I repent Thou shalt forgiue him Protest wee not that we doe this when according to our Masters direction wee cry to God in our daily prayers Forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs If we forgiue them from our heart we will pray to God for them as God said that Iob would pray for his friends Therefore St Iames sayth both to them who giue offence and to them which suffer it a Iam. 5.16 Confesse your faults one to another And pray one for another that yee may be healed for the effectuall feruent prayer of arighteous man avayleth much VI. In all the congregations of the Primitiue Church Iustin Apol. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Precibus finiâ—is mutuis nos inuicem osculis salutamus Tertull de Oratione cap. vlt. the brethren had a most vsefull and laudable custome to seale and close vp their prayers with mutuall imbracings and kisses which they called Orationis signaculum the seale of Prayer And so they went to the Table of the Lord. They kept this Custome principally in their fasting dayes as a publike testimony that they did forgiue one another were assured that God would heare their prayers which they had offered vp vnto him with single and meeke heart purified of all inward grudge and rankor and indued with brotherly charitie according to his holy and righteous commandement If any man withdrew this kisse from his brother he was rebuked and hissed of the whole congregation which being an assembly of holy true louers could not abide a brother who bewraied the ill-will and hatred of his heart when he refused the kisse of his mouth This custome was grounded vpon the custome of the Iewes who at their meetings did kisse one another and vpon the expresse commandement of the Apostles For S. Paul exhorteth the Romans Rom. 16.16 1 Cor. 16.20 2 Cor. 13.12 1 Thes 5.26 1 Pet. 5.14 the Corinthians the Thessalonians to greete one another with anâ—hâ—â— kisse And S. Peter exhorteth the brethren to greet one another with a kisse of charitie Not with the kisse of religious homage which is due to God alone and him whom he hath sent our Lord Iesus Christ Psal 2.12 as it is written Kisse the Sonne not with the kisse of superstitious homage to idoles as the Israelites kissed Baal 1 Kings 19 18. Hosea 13.2 and the calues Not with the kisse of naturall affection onely such as is vsual among those who are of kinred and nigh friends as when Isaac kissed his Sonne Iacob Gen. 27.27 and Iacob kissed his kinswoman Rachel Gen. 29.11 Not with the kisse of humanitie and ciuilitie such as were frequent among the Iewes when they did meet one another or when they invited a friend to their houses whereof Christ spake when he said to Simon the Pharisee who had invited him Luke 7.45 Thou gauest me no kisse Plin. lib. 14. c. 13. Ideo propinquos foeminis osculum dare vt scirent an â—emetumolerent Not with the kisse of triall such as was much vsed among the Romans who kissed their wiues and kinswomen to try if they had drunke wine nonnius ex Cicer. 3. de Repub. Carent remetâ— omnes mulieres Gellius lib. 10. cap. 23. and if they did sent of it killed them for amongst theÌ„ it was a crime in a woman to drinke wine Farre lesse with the kisse of treacherie and treason shadowed with the cloake of friendship loue as when Ioab kissing Amasa killed him 2 Sam. 20.9.10 Luke 22.48 and Iudas betrayed our Lord Iesus Christ with a kisse Pro. 27.6 Faithfull are the wounds of a friend but the kisses of an enemie are deceitfull In no case with the vncleane and vnchast kisse of wan tonnesse whereof it is written that the Harlot met a yong man Pro. 7.13 caught him Origen ad Roman cap. 16.16 Osculum fidele primum castum sit dâ—inde pacem simplicitatemque habeat in chari taâ—â— non ficta and kissed him but with an holy kisse wherein there is no vncleannesse and with a kisse of charitie wherein their is no dissembling but a cleare demonstration of a peaceable and loving heart Where such holy kisses were vsuall were there thinke ye any iarres any alterations any cousenage any contentions at law Or if any were they not presently smothered and extinguished in the very eyes of the congregation I know the precept of the Apostle is not vniuersall and that we are not tyed by it to the custome of kissing But this ye must all know that he thing signified thereby to wit coÌ„cord peace charitie is a law both vniuersal and perpetuall And therefore as our fasting giueth wings to our prayers that they may mount vp to the throne of grace swiftly so let vs this day by an vnfained reconciliation if there be any iarres amongst vs and with christian charity grace imbellish them that coÌ„ming there they may be welcome and accepted VII The third is that euery one weepe and pray for himselfe as Iobs friends were coÌ„manded to offer vp for themselues a burnt offering This lesson is implyed in my text For to whom doth Christ promise that they shall be comforted To them which mourne Salomon bids vs b Pro. 31.6.7 giue strong drinke vnto him that is ready to perish and wine vnto those that be of heauie hearts Let him drink and forget his pouertie and remember his misery no more This Christ doth He maketh glad with the wine of his comforts the hearts which are heauie for sinne for who that is not witlesse will giue wine to him who is already too merrie Let not any man be deceiued Though this whole Church though all the Churches of God Though all the Saints all the Angels of heauen should pray for one of you if that one weep not if he pray not for himself God wil not heare them to forgiue him his sins c Iam. 5.17 18. Eliah may fast and pray for raine when wicked Achab feastes
from the holy commandement delivered vnto them I will not compare the true Christian to a tree in the kingdome of Congo called by the Portugalians f Arbor tristis The sorrowfull tree because it neither buds nor blossomes nor brings forth fruit but in the night and in the day is without fruit flowers or leaues as if it were dead for the Christian is like vnto the Palme-tree which is greene both day and night though his godlinesse shineth more brightly like a Diamond in the night of his aduersitie then in the day of his prosperitie But well may I compare those painted Christians to the herbe called Heliotropium or Turnesol be cause it turneth with the Sunne both arising and going downe For so long as prosperous dayes shine vpon them they follow Christ who is t Mal. 4.2 the Sun of righteousnesse But if to put his children to a triall of their faith he hide himselfe for a little while in a darke night of persecution forthwith they turne their backes vnto him and forsake him Great and wailefull is their losse Neverthelesse the Church findeth in it a great gaine in weeping for them matter of ioy for her selfe For what are they but super fluous and vnprofitable u Ezech. 5.1.2 haire of the mystical body of Christ which he burnes with fire or scattereth in the wind when he taketh a rasour to trimme the head and the beard of his Church but x Ezech. 22.18 brasse tinne yron lead drosses which are euaporated vanish away in stincking pestilent smoak when y Mal. 3.3 the refiner and purifier of the sonnes of Levi taketh his gold and his siluer to melt and purge them in the furnace of triall but the scum which the Cauldron of the Church casteth out when it seeths and bubbles at the fire of persecution but a Psal 1.4 chaffe which the winde driueth away when the Lord taketh b Mat. 3.12 his fann◠in his hand a broome to sweepe and purge throughly his floare but c Ioh. 15.1 the fruitlesse branches of the true vine which the heavenly Vine-dresser takes away and casts into the fire of his indignation but d August in Epist Iohan. tract 3. Non de carne mea praecisi sunt sed pectus mihi premebant cum inessent c. ill humours which lay heavie vpon the stomacke of the Church but noisome and rotten deiections which shee avoyds into the iakes of the world when the Physician of the soule hath giuen her to drink a bitter potion in the cup of tribulation When such filthy excrements are euacuated she is not so grosse so swollen and puffed vp as she was but shee is more healthful Finally what are they but like vnto woodden legs or to a Creple-mans staffe which when he is cured of his disease he casteth away and not only looseth nothing of his owne but also receiueth a benefit and thankes God that they are not more behoouefull vnto him CHAP. V. 1 OVr first comfort in heaven is that wee shall be without sinne 2 The second that we shall be free from all miserie 3 The third that our faith and hope shall bee changed into the reall possession of the thing beleeved and hoped for 4 What shall bee then the blessednes of our soules 5 And of our bodies 6 Eternall life more fully described by seven circumstances 7 Then the wicked shall see the glory of Gods children who also shall see the torments of the wicked and praise God incessantly 8 Exhortation praier I. AS at the marriage e Ioh. 2.10 in Cana of Galilee all the wine was good but that which was given last was the best so all those comforts whereof I have spoken are most excellent but the last which God giveth to his children at the last day of their lives and which he shall fill to them in the unmeasurable bowles of his infinit mercies at the last day of the world surpasseth them all Our comfort and our blessednes is now that our sinnes are forgiven us our comfort our blessednes shall be then that we shall be without sinne f Rev. 14.13 Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord they rest from their labours Their first their last their most continuall and toilsome labour is their sinne from it they rest And therfore the holy Apostle g Rom. 7 24 desired to die that his blessednes which consisted onely in forgivenesse of sinne by death might bee changed into the blessednesse of abolishment of sinne for then there shall bee no sinne because there shall bee no inticement no allurement to sin h Rev. 21 27 There shall in no wise enter into the holy City any thing that defileth Nothing is able to defile us but sinne and therefore to it wee shall say in that day Get thee hence stād without i Rev. 22 15 For without are dogs and sorcerers and whoremongers and murderers and idolaters and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie What is sinne but a lie What is a sinner but a lover but a maker of lies But within are they of whom it is written k Esay 60.21 Thy people shall be all righteous they shall inherit the land for ever the branch of my planting the work of my hands that I may be glorified O Lord l Psalm 118.9 20 open to me the gates of righteousnes I will go into them and I wil praise the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord into which the righteous shall enter I wil praise thee for thou hast heard me and art become my salvation II. Our comfort and our blessednes is now that when m Rev. 17 4 the Whore of Babylon drinketh unto us in the cup of her abominations and fornications not the health but the death of our soules God strengtheneth us with n Esa 11.2 the spirit of might which maketh us to say to him o Psalm 73.27 28 Loe they that are farre from thee shall perish Thou hast destroied all them that goe awhoring from thee but it is good for mee to draw neer to God I have put my trust in the Lord God that I may declare al thy works Our comfort and our blessednes is now that when our enemies make us to drink great bowles of salt teares in stead of wine we drink stoutly and are not drunk and stagger not any way from our profession when they bait us they cannot abate us when they presse us they cannot oppresse us when they cut the thread of our mortall life vvee rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory because we know that God will knit and fasten our soules to the thread of immortalitie which his owne hands have spun Our comfort our blessednes will be then that p Rev. 21 4. God shal wipe away all teares from our eyes and there shal be no more death neither sorrow nor crying neither shal there be any more pain q Rem