it is the faith of Christ must be as the girdle of our loynes it is the iustice of Christ must be as the clothing of our nakednesse his crosse our standard and his bloud our colours What is the glorie and boasting of Christians but in him that died for vs in that name which is aboue euery name in that name in that name whereunto wee are baptized and wherein we are blest O thou Lord of hoasts and King of Israel we adore thy maiestie we honour thy mercie the sacrifice of thy flesh the oblation on the crosse the price of our redemption the riches of thy saluation whereby thou hast paid our debt and reconciled vs to the Father Therefore saith that chosen vessell God forbid I should glorie in any thing but in the crosse of our Lord Iesus Christ whereby the world is crucified to me and I vnto the world If any man preach other then yee haue receiued let him be accurst If any man receiue other then we haue preacht let him be accurst Saint Bernard giues the reason Alijs rebus non tam ornati quà m onerati sumus Other things are more cumbersome then profitable it is well if they prooue not hurtfull and pernicious like that fatall habit which the Turkish Emperors vsed to cast on those whom they meant to execute famously knowne by the name of deaths mantle in their stories What meaneth that of Christ for himselfe Without me yee can do nothing but in me ye haue life eternall Or that of Paul against himselfe Was Paul crucified for you or were ye baptized into the name of Paul But that wee should be wholly fixt on this obiect and drawne from the loue and the seruice and the foolish admiration of euery creature No man likes his friend should loue his gift better then himselfe and shall the Lord be pleased with such that care more for his blessing then for his goodnesse I will not say but that he is most readie to loose the bands of Orion and to power downe the sweete influence of the Pleiades as so many golden showers in the bosomes of his seruants yet is it his pleasure wee should set more by his person then by his fauours Aurum in arca Deus in conscientia saith that learned Father Austin God in the heart is like gold in the coffer Health to thy nauell marrow to thy bones cheere on thy table musicke in thy feasts sweetnesse in thy pleasures securitie in thy honours store in thy garners plentie in thy vineyards increase and fulnesse of all thy soule doth loue or imagine Yet may we delight in the temporall benefits of our spirituall Isaac the fatnesse of the earth and the dew of heauen so it be with relation to his glorie Non ad corruptionem sed ad consolationem non ad illigandum sed vtendum as Saint Austin hath distinguished it not to corruption but to consolation not to be entangled with their vanitie but to be refresht with the lawfull vse of their supply and vertue It is not said he that loueth father and mother is vnworthy of me But he that loueth father or mother or brother or sister more then me is vnworthy of me Neither is it a positiue vse but a comparatiue that is here restrained Well may the seede of Abraham embrace riches and honour and iurisdiction and power and due obseruance as it were from the sheaues of their brethren together with the sweet encrease of the Sunne and the sweet encrease of the Moone as a reward of pietie or the smell of a field which the Lord hath blest but if it be more then him they are vnworthy of him or if it be not for him they are vnworthy of him and therefore saith Ambrose In omnibus istis fragret odor Christi In all this let the sauour of Christ be fragrant and his loue abound Yea let it be predominant and supereminent as oyle on the top of water that our water may be turned into wine the rainy delights of watry pleasures into the sweet wine of true ioy and spirituall gladnesse It was the pride of Seneca and he boasted much Vbicunque ago Demetrium circumfero that wheresoeuer he went he bare Demetrius with him O that we could say the like of God! Vbicunque ago Deum circumfero Wheresoeuer I go I beare Christ Iesus with me the secret of my bosome is as the house of Zacheus where he was receiued with chearefulnesse and alacritie it is not a materiall crucifixe or a visible picture wrought in gold or framed in siluer but the sweet remembrance of my blessed Sauiour that is euer with me the print of his loue the example of his vertue the image of his goodnesse the record of his mercie all the miracles that he wrought for my conuersion all the precepts that he gaue for my instruction all the miseries and indignities that he endured and sustained for my libertie and saluation the power of his death the triumph of his crosse the glorie of his rising the comfort of his appearing is that which I bind as signes vpon my arme and lay as Camphire betweene my breasts Vbicunque ago Deum circumfero Wheresoeuer I go I beare Christ Iesus with me as the lot of mine inheritance as the crowne of my felicitie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith Alexandrinus the friend of my bosome the companion of my studie It is the light of thy countenance that was stampt vpon vs and it is the light of thy countenance that must shine within vs if euer wee be as the Moone faire and beautifull Whence shall the image of God deriue her beautie but from God Whence shall the Spouse of Christ take the ornaments of grace and comelinesse but from the treasure of his righteousnesse Adultera anima saith Austin that soule is wicked and adulterous guiltie of spirituall fornication which embraceth the creature and leaueth the Creator There is no helpe for vs but in that fountaine which our Fathers thirsted in the wildernesse It is with the heart of man as with the hand of Moses when he pluckt it out of his bosome it was foule and leprous when he put it in it was faire and comely Christ is our bosome and the cure of our leprosie the refuge of his Sanctuarie without him we are foule and leprous with him honorable and glorious sanctified and purged from the leprosie of sinne and the filth of iniquities We reade in the Stories of the Church that when Antioch was troubled with a lamentable earthquake Euphremion the Bishop receiued an Oracle that euery one should write Christus nohiscum Christ be with vs vpon the doores of their houses which being done the earthquake stayed and the inhabitants were comforted I know not how true that was sure I am if the faith of Christ be written vpon the doores of our hearts it will not onely stay the feares and the earth-quakes of our weake flesh and ruinous habitations but make strong our bars and stablish
and men of Israel get ye into the holy place the closet of your hearts the secret of your consciences looke vpon the wine that runnes and the hony that streames from the treading of the grape and the opening of the rocke consider the sharpnesse of his death if there were any sorrow like vnto his the sweetnesse of his loue if there were any mercy to be compared with his and let your spirits melt and bleed and distill and bee power'd forth into a sweet ointment and great libution for the merit of his death and the benefit of your redemption Martialls Flie play'd so long vnder a tree that at length it was wrapt in amber and congeal'd in the drops that came from the boughs Sic modo quae fuerat vita contempta manente Funeribus facta est nunc praetiosa suis The best of vs are but wormes let vs not despise to be as this Flie still houering about the tree of the crosse and the ointment of his bloud till wee be wrapped and closed and buried and entombed in the pretious amber of his bleeding wounds and the sacred gum of that tree which growes in the midst of Paradise For if we suffer with him we shall raigne with him and if we bee conformed to the similitude of his death we shall bee transformed to the image of his glory Effundam de spiritu meo saith God the Father I will powre out my Spirit vpon all flesh Effudi de sanguine meo saith God the Sonne I haue powr'd forth my bloud for all flesh See the price of your redemption and the pledge of your saluation by this ye enter the holy place and are assured of that kingdome where neither height nor depth nor things present nor things to come nor life nor death nor any other creature shall bee able to separate vs from the loue of God which is Christ Iesus O Lord enflame this loue in vs and crowne this hope on vs for the bitter death and meritorious passion of thy Sonne and our Sauiour to whom with the Father bee ascribed all honour and glorie power and dominion throughout all generations Amen Sanctorum GLORIA The glory of the Saints GREG. Mor. lib. 6. Quia in hac vita discretio operum erit in illa discretio dignitatum LONDON Printed for ROBERT ALLOT THE FOVRTH SERMON MATH 19. 28. Ye which haue followed me in the regeneration when the Sonne of man shall sit in the throne of his glorie yee shall also sit vpon twelue thrones iudging the twelue tribes of Israel I Know not whether that of Theodosius do sauour more of wisedome or abound more with the sweetnesse of deuotion sure I am it is most pious and Christian Gaudeo magis c. I reioyce more to be a seruant of the liuing God then to be a Monarch of the whole earth For as his yoke is easie and his burthen light so is his protection mightie and his seruice honourable witnesse that of our Sauiour 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 if any man serue me the Father will do him honour It pleased Satan to vpbraid Iob with a numquid Deum gratis colit Doth Iob serue God for nought We may heare the same and neuer bee ashamed or rather pronounce without question Non colimus Deum gratis we do not serue God for nought Hee is our reward our great reward our exceeding great reward as hee doth encourage Abraham in the 15. of Genesis and therefore let me take vp the eccho of that double voyce Consolamini consolamini be comforted be comforted all ye that labour and trauell vnder the burthen of his crosse bee it father mother wife children house lands or whatsoeuer ye leaue for his names sake ye shall receiue an hundred fold and at length inherit life eternall For we haue a good master and there is ioy in the expectation of the righteous good in his promises good in his threatnings whether hee amend vs with his punishments whether hee strengthen vs with his comforts whether hee adorned vs with his graces whether he crowne vs with his mercies euery way good vnto vs. Not a man of you shall depart from the Court of his tabernacle or the presence of his maiestie without a gladsome heart and a chearefull countenance Whence is that of sweet Bernard Non Isaac sed aries molietur Though we be neuer so much affraid it is not Isaac but the Ram that must bee sacrificed it is not the delight and pleasure of our soules that shall be taken from vs for that indeed is Isaac but it is the obstinacie and contumacie of our spirits that must bee tamed in vs for that indeed is the Ramme that stuck in the bush and is neuer without the prickling thornes of anguish and vexation Do we serue God it is God that serues vs Doe wee honour the Lord it is the Lord that doth honour vs and will do more when my text shall be verified Yee that haue followed me in the regeneration when the Sonne of man shall sit in the throne of his glorie yee shall also sit vpon twelue thrones iudging the twelue tribes of Israel These words are a gracious promise made to the Apostles but extended to the Gentiles and do concerne the whole familie of God for as they exclude Iudas though present when Christ spake by reason of his Apostasie so they include vs though many generations after Christ spake through faith in his mercie Will ye know the substance of the promise They sit and iudge Sit vpon twelue thrones There is the state and maiestie of their wonderfull exaltation Iudge the twelue tribes of Israel There is the eminencie and prerogatiue of their infinite iurisdiction Will ye learne the circumstance of this promise It is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the consummation and renouation of the whole world when he that was in the forme of a seruant shall take vpon him the forme of a Iudge and that in a Throne of glorie But vpon what termes haue we so great honour Is it giuen to any without condition No 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They are such as follow him and obserue his doctrine Not all that leaue all but all that follow him Ye that haue followed me in the regeneration when the Sonne of man shall sit vpon a throne of glorie shall also c. Here then we haue first a president of Christian imitation Ye that haue followed me Secondly a reward of blessed enthronization Shall sit vpon twelue thrones and iudge the twelue tribes of Israel Last of all the determinate point and terme of this glorie and perfection it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the renouation and instauration of the whole world when the sonne of man shall declare himselfe to bee the Sonne of God in a throne of glorie Yee that haue followed me in the regeneration when the sonne of man shall sit vpon a throne of glorie yee also shall sit vpon twelue thrones iudging the twelue tribes of Israel My whole
Parasite Whilst Christ Iesus the Sonne of the liuing God sits alone as a sparrow on the house top or a Pellican in the wildernes Beloued I speake with shame to you and griefe to my selfe what sometime Saint Bernard spake to his auditors Quidam non sequuntur sed fugiunt Quidam sequuntur sed non essequuntur c. Some doe not follow Christ but run from him they are such as delight in wickednes for he that doth euill hateth the light Some do not follow Christ but go before him they are such as resist gouernment whereof Peter was an instance Master spare thy selfe it shall not be vnto thee Some follow Christ but do not ouertake him and they are such as faint in their proceedings to whom we may say Lift vp the weake hands and strengthen the feeble knees Some follow Christ and at length reach vnto him and they are such as perseuere in holinesse to whom belong the Tables and the Couenant the Oracles and the Promise the Promise of life and the Promise of my text For they shall sit vpon twelue thrones and iudge the twelue tribes of Israel And so I come from the motion to the mansion from the consectation to the confession in these words They shall sit vpon twelue thrones and iudge the twelue tribes of Israel Euery master hath his seuerall pay the world payes his followers with trouble and carefulnesse the flesh payes his followers with corruption and filthinesse the diuell payes his followers with despaire and wretchednesse But Christ payes his followers with glory and blessednesse They shall sit vpon twelue thrones and iudge the twelue tribes of Israel I make no question but some are like the Orator and can sit double hauing placed themselues on two seates by the treacherous practise of dissimulation and hypocrisie but they shall neuer be honoured with the Saints or rest vpon twelue seates without great mercy in the full possession of ioy and felicitie They which confine these words to the Apostles with Saint Chrysostome make the soule of euery Christian to be as a throne or place of residence Such as receiue the word of Iohn the throne of Iohn Such as embrace the doctrine of Peter the throne of Peter But they extend further and haue respect to Christs tribunall where all the elect haue their seuerall places and sit at table with him in that heauenly kingdome Here then is a certaine number put for an vncertaine A finite for an infinite so that by twelue thrones wee vnderstand a vniuersalitie of thrones prouided for the Saints in the highest places Saint Austin vndertakes to giue a reason from the mysterie of this number but that is more Platonicall then diuine Wee may rest satisfied with that generall Thesis of our Sauiour In my Fathers house are diuerse mansions To search busily what these thrones are is vaine curiositie to define boldly is presumptuous leuitie It is like they shall be of aire because we shall meete the Lord in the aire and if they haue conformitie with that of our Sauiour it must be so for he shall ride in the aire and make the clouds his chariot Whereupon saith Iohn I looked and behold a white cloud and he that sate thereon like the sonne of man hauing on his head a crowne of gold and in his hand a sharpe sickle Apoc. 14. 14. But whatsoeuer these thrones are they promise rest and tranquilitie in the bosome of Abraham Sedebit anima sedebit caro they shall find rest vnto their soules and rest vnto their bodies to their bodies from the paine of trauell and the mutabilitie of corruption to their soules from the waues of trouble and the conflicts of passions nor feare nor griefe nor wrath nor desire nor any thought of carnall affection shall disturb the quiet of their sweet repose but as they are satisfied with the fulnesse of the Lord so likewise shall they bee secured by the omnipotence of his greatnesse and yet there is somewhat more in this easie posture for to sit in the presence of God betokens infinite state and most incomporable maiestie worthy to bee obserued by all those which desire long robes and loue the highest places of the Synagogues because they shall not onely sit but iudge the tribes of Israel All iudicature is most honourable but this exceeds in glorie Quis honor saecularis as Saint Bernard makes the question Is there any power in the world to be compared with it It is not a Citie or a countrie but the tribes of Israel and the kingdomes of the earth that must stand before the Saints and be lyable to their iudgement Bond and free Iew and Grecian for they are all sealed with the tribes and ranckt with their diuisions Nay the whole world and all the creatures therein though neuer so eminent and sublime in glorie Witnesse that of the Apostle Know ye not that wee shall iudge the Angels 1. Cor. 6. 3. There is a iudgement of power and authoritie that belongs to God the Father for hee is iudge of the whole earth there is a iudgement of honour and delegacie that belongs to Christ as he is man for the Lord hath giuen all iudgment to the Sonne there is a iudgement of assession and witnesse and consent and allowance that belongs to the whole companie of Gods elect for they shall sing and reioyce and gratulate the truth of diuine iustice with the sweetest notes of Iubilie and thankfulnesse here then is man aduanced and superexalted aboue the starres of the morning and the Citizens of heauen indeed we reade that God shall come to iudgement with his Angels as followers and attendants but the text saith Hee shall sit in iudgement with men as familiars and associats their iudgement is ministeriall and seruiceable our iudgement powerfull and honourable and that vpon thrones and ouer thrones and dorninions and all the glorious host of his noblest creatures for they haue a iudgement to receiue Non condemnationis sed manifestationis as the Schoolemen haue distinguisht not of shame and confusion with the diuell and his Angels but of shew and manifestation to the praise of Christ and the glorie of their innocence O yee mercenary worldlings and fugitiue seruants that run from your owne master and serue Pharoh in the bondage of your spirits that cleaue to the dust and follow the way of Balaam who loued the wages of vnrighteousnesse making that a reproch to vs which the poore Indians vsed to the Spaniards when they tooke a peece of gold and cryed Loe here is the god of the Christians Thinke vpon the goodnesse of the Lord and the dignitie of his seruants lest hee that long since placed his bow in the clouds without an arrow call for the instruments of death and wound yee in his sore displeasure 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith the Euangelist This is the condemnation of the world that light is come into the world but men haue loued darknesse more then light Is it not