THE Solace of SION and Joy of IERVSALEM Or Consolation of Gods Church in the latter age redeemed by the preaching of the Gospell vniuersallye Beeing a godly and learned exposition of the Lxxxvij Psalme of the Princelye Prophet DAVID Written in Latine by the reuerend Doctor VRBANVS REGIVS Pastor of Christes Church at Zelle in Saxonie 1536. Translated into english by R. Robinson Citizen of London 1587. Ioel 2. vers 32. But whosoeuer shall call vpon the name of the Lord shall be saued For in Mount SION and in Ierusalem shall be deliuerance as the Lorde hath said and in the remnant whome the Lord shall call Psal 45. â—egina à dextris â—â—i c vers 9. Psal 113. Qui facit mulierem orbaÌ„ habitare cum familia sua matreÌ„que filiorum laetam fore vers 9. â—ex concupiscet â—ecorem tuum â— vers 11. Qui Structor Ecclesiae suae est Angul â—risque Lapis Rex SION Salem Leo Iudae Flosque Iessae Nutritiosque creat Reges Nutricesque Reginas Ecclesiae suae protegat inquam CHRISTVS Reginam ELIZABETH Scuta Regalia sua Liberae vt SARAâ— filij multi fiant Donec nos in SION Dei Ciuitateque Viui SALEM sic Caelesti coagaudeaâ—nus omnes CIVITAS LONDON Ps 101. AnnuÌ„cictur in Sion nomen Domini laus eiê° in Ierusalem vers 26. Ex omnibus Ciuitatibus edificatis O Deus sanâ—… To the Right Honorable Sir George Barne Knight Lord Maior of the City of London to the Right worshipful his Brethren the Aldermen of the same Grace Mercy Peace and plenitude of Temporal and eternal Beatitude in Christ Iesus our Lorde and Sauiour Euerlasting KNOVVLEDGE of GOD by his holy wil word works omnipotent conceiued Faith in his heauenly prouidence presence and promises al sufficient perceiued and obedient thankfulnesse for his inestimable bounty benefits blessing permanent receiued Right Honorable Worshipfull and Reuerend in the Lord as they are three most excellent plants of deuine vertue of whose fruite if our first Parents in Paradise had taken tasted and disgested aright as they did of a contrarie not onely their solace there had beene without Sorrowe their ioy without anoy and their life without death to the inspeakable solace and infinite ioy of the eternall GOD their Creator But also both they and all their posteritie had beene freed from the thraldome of Sathan sinne Death and Hell from time to time euen for euer For thereby in steede of knowledge wilful boldnes for want of faith incredulytie and for obediâ—… iâ—â—o paine prosperity into aduersitie health into sicknes life into death and blessings into cursings Albeit the same our omnipotent Creator mercifull Redeemer gratious sanctifier according to his holy will word and work by his heauenly prouidence presence and promises by hiâ— bountie benefites and blessings afterwardeâ— finding better fruites of knowledge repentance faith and obedience in theÌ„ comforted and confirmed both the same our first sinfull parentes their seede after them videlizeâ— SETH ENOS KAINAN MALALIEL â—ARED ENOCH with long and happie daies vpon earth Of which seauen ENOCH especially euen aliue the rest of the fathers beholding the same was from thence translated into heauen not onely for a repentance vnto the nations in this life but also to signify the immortalitie of the bodies soules of the Lordâ— elect after this life euerlastingly And hereupon the best approued Interpreters and writers gather that as the Lord in sixe daies created the world â—ested the seauenth day so the same shoulde endure six thousand yeares the seuenth thousand shold be the Sabath of eternal rest and as the first sixe Fathers from ADAM to ENOCH died by course of nature and the seauenth was translated aliue into Heauen so during the first 6000. yeares death should raiâ—â—â—n the world but in the 7000 should begin thâ—â—â—â—â—â—ednesse of life in the world euerlasting Here then consequeâ—â—â— after ENOCH we now for our time haue great cause of consolation To remember how yet in the first age God calling NOAH a rest or ceasing with his famelye into the Arke and they obediently entring were saued when al the world besides were consumed Gen. 6 And how in the second age of the worde SHâ—â— the renoumed of whome the first Iewes came IAPHETH enlarged of whome the first Gentiles came both the sonnes of the same NOAH should being blessed ioine handes together towards the building of the earthly SION and heauenly IERVSALEM when their brother CAM crafty for his disobedience was accursed Genes 9 And his children the Cananites an idolatrous and wicked people were confounded in their presumtuous building of the earthly BABEL How also the second age expired and in the 23. yeare of the third beginning ABRAHAM the father of a multitude being called by God out of the Citie of HARAN in Mesopotomia into Palestine eueÌ„ there amongst the infidels receiued the promise concerning Christ incarnate of his seed that the world shoulde by him recouer the blessings that it lost through ADAM Genes 12. Which was by the will of God more amply perfourmed in the Lords couenaÌ„t vnto Dauid beloued of the tribe of IVDA the yongest sonne of ISHAY Who from keeping of sheepe being called to be a king ruled in SION and in IERVSALEM with great solace and ioy of his people a Conqueror of their enemies a comforter of their friendes and as a princely deuine 〈…〉 Lords annointed receiued the effectual promise concerning Christâ— incarnate to come of his 〈…〉 and the sure safe stability of his euerlasting kingdome 2 Sam. 7. and though he builded not the Lord a materiall Temple yet hee endeuoured most religiously to aduance Gods glorie in his congregation with de uine seruice and worship according to the holie will of the Lord solemply celebrating the same with heaueÌ„ly harmony of sacred songes and with Psalmes of prayer and praise appointing ASAPH Hâ—MAN IDITHVM and the sonnes of KORACH most skilful Musitions to play vpon and sing to melodious instruments with sweet solace ioy in the Lord. After whom SOLOMON peaceable his sonn succeeding being appointed of the Lord to builde and beautify the Temple for religion wisedome wealth power and prosperitie incomparably florished at the first But in his elder years forgetting God and falling vnto Idolatrie he procured Gods displeasure the hatred of his enemies and decay of his kingdome And in the third age the Lorde thinking vpon his promise made vnto Dauid aforesaid by his prouidence ordained the most godly wise prosperous and victorious kinges of IVDA as Asa Iosaphat Ioathan Ezechias and Iosias and after them Cyrus Darius and Artaxerxes kings of Persia with Zerubbabel Ne hemias Esdias their helpers to build the Lords house destroy all Idolatry bring the people out of Babilonical thraldome and set them forwards in the way of the promised heauenly SION and IerusaleÌ„ In whose daies also the Lord stirred vp his holy Prophets Esay Ieremy Ezechiel Daniell
wâ—ek of the yeares which Daniell declareth Cap 9. vers 27. but imagine themselues another Sauiour or Sacrifice offered I know not whom it is impossible for them to vnderstande the sacred misteries of the Gaspell in the Prophets which are not vnderstoode but by the gouernment and guide of y e spirit of Christ who speaketh in the Prophets And none haue the spirit of Christ but they which beleeue in Iesus Christ Wherefore also in this Psalme as yet still pleasantly dreame they of that same auncient Cittye of Sion in time past ouerthrowne and laide waste by the 〈…〉 â— as Daniell also witnesseth neuer to be restoryd againe But the Church of Christe which hath the holye Ghost and thereby also true vnderstanding of the Scripture knoweth indeede that Ierusalem and Sion was in time past beloued of God For at Ierusalem was the Priesthoode of the Leuites the Sanctuarie propiciatorie a place dedicated for religion or true worshipping of God that same notable treasure of sacred Scriptures the Law and the Prophets wherein is the Gospell of eternall saluation And in Ierusalem was the Kings royall Throane vpon the which should sit that same true King of Israell the Messias which was to be born of the seede of Dauid but all this should come to passe in a certaine other order then other Kinges had their gouernment In this Sion were glorious thinges begun For the same Ruler ouer Israell Iesus Christ came into this Sion and into his holy Temple Malachy 3 Therin preached he the vnsearcheable Riches of his grace Therein beganne he that mighty Kingdome of his by the woorde of his Gospell and by his spirite which was miraculously powred vpon his Apostles in Sion The Law and the Prophets were in that place accomplished For Iesus of Nazareth the sonne of Dauid after the flesh the true Messias came into Sion riding vhon an Asses Colte the true and eternall King of Sion and in the same Cittie celebrated the true feast of Passouer and néer vnto the same offered vppe himselfe to GOD his Father the full accomplishment of all figuratiue sacrifices the sacrifice of true redemption and the verye immaculate Lambe died he at the feast of Easter for the sinnes of all the worlde and all this did he the alone high Prieste who with one onely oblation purchased euerlasting redemption vnto Israell Out of Sion afterwards plentifully issued the Gospell of Gods grace into the worlde by the Apostles And the Primitiue Church which at the firste was but very small in number wente out of Sion and disperst her selfe into the four partes of the world that the Scriptures might be fulfilled Concerning the calling of the Gentiles vnto the grace of the Gospell The Church I say knewe eâ—â—n the earthly Sion to â—ee for a season beloued preserued of God vntill Siloh that is the promised Sauiour came into her and out of her by the remnants of Israll saued should Sion the true Church of Christ come foorth into all the worlde as the mother of all true beléeuers in Christe And shee also knewe euen that same Sion in Canaan to haue ben a figure of the true Sion the Church of God dispearsed throughout the world which is the heauenly Ierusalem As it is also saide by S. Paule 13. Hebr. Ye are come vnto the hil of Sion and to the Cittye of the liuing God the heauenly Ierualem c. Although therefore the Holy Ghoste fore-prophested these things touching the earthly Ierusalem and the earthly Sion as by a Type or Figure yet he intituled this Psalme especiallye of the true Sion the Church of Christ which is to be gathered from among the Iewes and Gentiles also neither had he respect only vnto the earthly Cittie her walles of stone but vnto the spirituall Cittye and her spirituall Scituacions and vnto farre greater matters then the faithlesse Jewes could conceiue of The holye Ghost chieflye recorded this touching The holy Cittie the newe Ierusalem descended from Heauen prepared as a Bride trimmed for her Husbande Apoc. 21. vers 2. And as S. Paul saith in the former Epistle and 11. Cap. Heb. Hauing the foundations of the Cittie whose Builder and maker is not man alone but GOD himselfe made man verse 10 The holy Ghost premeditated this as concerning the true foundation of Sion The liuely stone of men indeed refused but of God chosen and had in reputation Mat 21. He foresignified the liuely stones also builded vpon the approoued corner stone chosen precious and liuely as that spirituall house the Tabernacle and Temple of the liuing God Yea he prefigureth The Mountaine of the house of the Lord prepared in the toppe of the Mountaines exalted aboue the Hilles wherunto the People shal ronne and many nations shal make haste as it were vnto a Fort of refuge to learne the waies of the Lorde and to walke in his pathes Micheas 4. vers 1 and 2. He in whome and for whome God hath promised true and assured benefites vnto his elect is King not of this world or an earthly person but is spirituall heauenly and eternall Wherefore the elect ones of GOD are not to looke after the benefites of this worlde for the which we neither were baptized nor haue beleeued But we must seeke for the assured good things vncorrupt and eternall Undoubtedly Augustine saieth verie godlily writing vpon the 91. Psalme We are not ChristiaÌ„s but for the world to come Let no man hope for the good things in this life let no maÌ„ promise him selfe the prosperity of the world because be is a Christian No Cittie vpon earth which shal soone perish must we look for but the true Cittie whose walle and fouÌ„dation God himselfe is vpon whom all the praiers of the godly ones do rest of whome in the exilement of this life they are continually mindfull as of the true Cuntrey To the possession wherof they refer and wholy bend all the deteminations and deedes of their life For they seeke after true glory honour and blessed immortalitie which they finde not in Citties and transitorie benefites of this Countrey but in the heauenlie Kingdome or Cittie of God Herehence hath this Psalme that same his abroptâ— beginning for it saieth Her foundations when as not withstanding there is not any one word goeth â—efore in the verse concerning the same Cittie Wherfore the Pronoune Relatiue Her is to bee referred vnto the Church of God which hee nowe not as a Guest or inhabitant but as a felow Citizen of the Saintes and housholde Seruants of God by the spirite reueiling sawe with the eyes of Faith and sore sighed after with moste seruent prayers as he which knew that there is no rest peace life nor saluation without the Limittes of this Cittie of God Such cogitations Christians haue whose conuersations are in heauen as Paule saieth Philip. 3. Who when they are risen from the death of sinne seeke for and are carefull after heaueÌ„ly things and
and the rest to pronounce vnto the Nations his holy wil word works to preach vnto al true beleeuers his prouideÌ„ce presence promises in his church kingdome by Christ and his Gospel of euerlasting saluation In the fourth age of the 〈…〉 the Prophets Christ Iesus the sonne of God came into the world for the saluation of al true beleeuers whoÌ„ the very Gentiles of the â—ast at his first comming acknowledged worshipped the Iewes afterwards scatered here and there among the Gentiles and many of their Rulers beleeued in him Though the Pharises Scribes and Hipocrites with other wicked Iewes despised his doctrine and persecuted his person and his Apostles also of whom the denying Peter a penitent Pastor among the Iewes and the persecuting Saule a conuert Paul among the Gentiles were also mightie messengers workmen of their maister Christ when with theÌ„ the other Appostles and many christian Doctors Martires and meÌ„bers of the Primitiue Church vnder 12. persecutions for the same causes and effectes liued and died the faithfull seruants of Christ and Inheritours of the promised heauenly SION and Ierusalem And as euen in that age the Romane Antechriste began his kingdome to constitute mans traditions a boue Christs institutions whome Tyrants Epicures Sophisters and manifolde miscreantes vpheld had in honor So euen then in the fift age of the world the Lord God stirred vp good and gratious Emperors and kinges godly spiritual persons and religious meÌ„bers of his Church to settle and defend his trueth and aduance the glory of his heauenly kingdome to the subduing of the same Antichrist And now are almost 600 yeares entred into the sixt age of the world the Lordin his holy wil word and work perfourming his prouidence presence and promises in his church and kingdome euerlasting by gathering the same out of euery Nation the faithful of his flock who shal partake with him of the celestial solace infinite ioy in the heauenly SION and Ierusalem in the Sabaoth of eternall rest Towardes the well wishing wherevnto Right honorable worshipful reuereÌ„d in the Lord like as the Apostle Paul writ his louing salutatioÌ„s vnto the Romanes at that time the chosen church of Christ and amongst some of them engrafted in the true faith before himselfe was called praied theÌ„ to salute VRBANVS his fellow helper in Christ So do â— most humbly and hartely reuerently dutifully recoÌ„mend vnto your honour and worships godly fauourable acceptations of this short but sweet Psalm this little but learned labour published by so faithful a fellow helpen of Paul this VRBANVS REGIVS or kingly Citizen of Christ in our time who as he being present in spirite though absent in body for two yeares sent the same in latine as a token of remeÌ„brance vnto the worshipful Senators of Hamborow his frieÌ„ds So I a poore Citizen of LONDON wel willer of your worships my good benefactors doe dedicate consecrate this my translation of the same In perperuam MnemosinaÌ„ proÌ„ptitudinis meae in praecatione praxin pro pietatibus vestris And so humbly beseeching your honour worships to accept my great good wil in so smal a substance though great in effect I hartely pray for the happy long encrease of Gods benefites and blessings vpon this City terrestiall for the end les perfruitioÌ„ therof with Christ the immaculate LaÌ„b his Angels elders thousandes thousandes of his elect vnto whome with the father and the holy Ghost they incessantly shal ascribe all power riches and wisedome and strength and honor and glory and praise For euer and euer So be it Your honors and worships humble Orator Richard Robinson The Lxxxvii Psal according to the Hebrues Whereof the Title is attributed A Psalme or Songe of the SONNES of KORACH AVGVSTINE saide well that this Psalme was verye briefe in circumstance of wordes but greate in substance of all the sentences For whereas it hath but seauen verses onely yet notwithstanding it describeth profoundlie the Churche of Christ the Heauenly Ierusalem the spirituall Sion as the fruitfull Mother both of the Iewes and Gentiles what a one how large she shall be when as she shal not only haue Citizens from among the Iewes but from among the Gentiles also throughout the whole worlde And out of this Psalme learne we that Article of our faith I beleeue there is one Catholike holy Church the CoÌ„munion of Saintes And I suppose this is euen very specially necessary for this ouâ— age that we may exactlye learne and daylie handle this Article out of the holy Scriptures leaste we be seduced either by the Anabaptistes and Chiliasts of our time carnally vnderstanding the predictions of Prophets concerning the Church either els be carried away with admiration of their glorious and stately Titles who at this day thruste foorth into Christians the inuentions of mans braine for and in steede of the true worshipping of GOD vnder preteÌ„ce of the Church As if the Church of whome we daylie make mention in the Apostolike Créede were either a worldlye pollicye or the Author of infinite tradicions which at this day false and tyranicall teachers of this latter age do cast as it were snares into the consciences of christian people like as the Prophet Ezechiell in his 13. Chap. speaketh of those deceiuers That they mighte slaye the Soules of them which die not and giue life to the soules that liue not in lying to my People which beleeue their lies Verse 19. The Lxxxvii Psal vers 1. Her foundations are vpon the holy Hilles Pars 1. The Lord loueth the Gates of Sion more theÌ„ al the dwellings of Iacob Pars 2. PAVLE the Apostle wrote in 1 Cor. 10. That all thinges happened to the Iewes in Type or figure as it were vnto a People Tipicall or figuratiue wherfore we will herehence enter our purpose from the Type vnto the trueth and from the shadowe vnto the Light it selfe What notable thing soeuer is any-wheare in the Scripture mentioned as touching Sion Ierusalem Iuda and Israel what so deuine promises of Christ and his euerlasting Kingdome are any wheare set downe all this doth the carnall People of the Iewes referre vnto themselues and the earthly Sion Ierusalem Wherefore in these and such like Prophesies the Iewes notably flatter themselues and most arrogantly despise the Gentiles in comparison of them selues Because as S. Paule sayeth 2. Cor. â— Those Gentiles haue the â—oâ—eâ—iâ—â— vntaken from their hearts as in the reading of the Olde Testament and the Kingdome of God is taken from them They also erre not knowing the Scriptures neither shall the Veile or Couering of their vngodly ignorance be taken away except they first be conuerted vnto the Lord. verses 14. 15. 16. So â—as whiles they imbrace not IESVS of Nazareth for theire true Messias or Sauiour fore promised in the Lawe and the Prophets and sente vnto vs from God in the last
Christ may be reckoned amongst the people of GOD that is the Church of Christ Our Scholemaister D. Martin Luther that he might also open the misterâ—â— of the calling of the Gentiles in this place vnto the â—ares of y â— Germanes doth thâ—â— translate it Ich will predigen lassen Rahab vnd Babell das sie mich kennen solleÌ„ that is to say I will let prâ—â—ch Rahab Babilon that they may knowe me And this rightlie and perspicuously so he doth For that this is the rule of a good Interpreter S. Ierome writing vnto Summa and Fretela teacheth vs That he might expresse the phrase of an other language in the proprietie of his owne tongue which thing also amoÌ„gst y â— ancieÌ„ts y â— be slearned writers haue done as Tully in Protagora Platonis in Oeconomiâ—o Xenophontis in Demosthenes his oration against Aeschines many others In which place heare that folly bragging of the outragions Sinagogue is beaten backe wheras it crieth Abraham is our father we are the heritage of GOD the Gentiles are accursed Iohn 8 vers 39. For it is a cleare and euident Testimonie of the calling of the Gentiles out of the whole world to the Gospel of Christ For by the calling of the aforesaide Nations in this place are all other Nations also to be vnderstood wheresoeuer they be thronghout the worlde And like as the Prophets do prophesiâ— of the grace of Christ to be imparted vnto the Nations that the kingdome of Christ may be Catholike or vniuersall Therefore not onely shall God remember the posteritie of ABRAHAM after the flesh but also the Gentiles in the whole worlde out of whome by faith he maketh the sonnes of Abraham that if not in consanguinitye yet in the same Faith they may resemble their true beleeuing father Abraham Therefore doeth the Apostle call Abraham the Father of all the faithfull by Circumsision that vnto them also Righteousnesse might bee imputed euen as vnto him beleeuing the promise concerning Christ Faith is imputed vnto righteousnesse Rom. 4. 16. vers 9. 7. Gal. 3. vers 7. 22. The Lawe worketh nothing theare nor the generation as touching the flesh For the promise happened not vnto Abraham by the Lawe nor to his seede That hee should be the heire of the worlde but by righteousnesse of faith Like as in 3. cap. Gal. vers 7. he saith They which are of faith are the Children of Abraham Wee vnderstande here that the flesh hathe no prerogatiue in respecte of iustification but faith in Christe Wherefore wee which were taken from among the Gentiles and which as the same Apostle saieth were once farre off are now made neere by the blood of Christe Ephes 2. vers 13. Who from out both Iewes and Gentiles hath made one and hath broken the stoppe of the partition wall vers 14. Nowe wee both through him haue an Enterance vnto the Father of mercies by one spirite vers 18. This doth the promise of God in this Psalme I will thinke vpon Rahab and Babilon c. that is to say I will call and take vnto me Children from out of al the Nations in the world and not out of Canaan onely which surely ought to be reckoned by good right amongst the glorious thinges which are spoken off touching the Churche of Christ For the Apostle also in the third chapiter to the Ephesians fearmeth the calling of the Gentiles into the Church or Congregation of ISRAEL a Misterye which was not alwayes knowen vnto the Sonnes of men but is reueyled vnto the Holye ones the Apostles of Christ and his Prophets by his holy spirite namely that the Gentiles are fellow-heires with the Iewes members of one body and Coo-partners of the promise of life in Christ And the Prophet Dauid here addeth in the ende of this verse Loe there is hee borne that is to say the people of the nations before remembred Where are they borne I answere wheras hee reconeth vp by the name of those Nations it is certaine that he speaketh of them which are now borne but he affirmeth the misterie of regeneration To be by water the Sperite as in Iohn 3. And he teacheth also that those Nations borne anew theare that is within the gates of SION in the citie of God haue giuen their name vnto Christ forsaking their Idols and are to be conuerted from darknesse vnto light and from the power of Satan vnto the true and liuing God that they may also receiue forgiuenesse of Sinnes and inheritance amongst them which are sanctified by faith in Christ Vers 5 And of SION it shal be reported that manie are borne in her And hee euen the most high shal stablish her IN this place the translation as S. Hierome sayeth to Summa and Fretela according to the places times and pleasures of olde writers differeth froÌ„ the Hebrue veritie For that saith Vnto SION it shall be reported many are borne in her But the Greeke translation hath it thus The Mother Sion shall say many persons are borne in her Finallie the west church hath now for a long time read Shal Sion say many are borne c In which place not without cause do we detest the negligence of the Prelates of the Church in whose power at this day consisteth the chéefe regarde of thinges who do surmount the Princes of the Empire both in wealth and reuenues much more are equal vnto them and yet in so many ages not euen one hath bene sound who at the charge of the Church goodes hath reformed the exemplars of the Byble or at least wise the Psalter within all the Churches is song nightes and daies such faithfull Stewardes of God are they for sooth But let vs suffer them to fill vp the measure of their Fathers indeede the Pharises whoe euen themselues with like periurye gouerned their Sinagogue in time past so long that whiles they woulde not repent them they vtterly perished from the face of the earth Firste wee will showe foorth what meaninges the Hebrue Text hath Of SION it shall bee reported that is of the Church of Christe it shall bee preached Manye are borne in her That is euerye one that is regenerate by the Spirite is borne in that SION For in the Church are the worde of life and the Sacramentes of our saluation Wherefore they which remaine out of the Church are the Children of wrath the Children of olde ADAM yea carnall Children dead in sinnes and subiect vnto eternall damnation But they which in SION addresse or reedifye the Cittye of GOD doe finde the Gospell of Saluation and the Sacramentes by the whiche they are borne anewe and are made the Children of grace the Sonnes of GOD and new men are raised vppe from the Death of Sinne and made Spirituall heires of eternall life The Hebrue Phrase is Vir Vir Homo Homo for the worde Vnusquisque Luther whome the Spirite of Christe taught by moste grieuous tribulations not onely to singe with
the voice but also with the spirite and trueth expressed this verse to the Germanes vnderstanding on this maner Man wirt von Zion sagen das aller ley leut drinneÌ„ geboren werden It shall be said of Sion all Nations shall be borne therein which we out of the Hebrue text doe thus expound Vir Vir that is euery one in whatsoeuer Nation he be borne at length yet againe hee is borne anewe in SION As Peter also in the Actes Cap. 10. sayeth Of trueth I perceiue that GOD is no 〈…〉 of Persons but in euerye 〈…〉 that feareth him and worketh Righâ—â—ousnesse is accepted with him vers 34. and 35. According to y e Gréeke edetion we read The mother Sion y is y e church which is the spiritual mother For within y â— â—hurch we were borne a new with wâ—ter and of the Spirite and in the lap of the Church as infantes are in their mothers bellie And first we are nourished with milke afterward with strong meat that is with the word of God preached vnto vs according to our capacitie vntill we all meete together in the vnity of faith and knowledge of the sonne of God vnto a perfect man and vnto the measure of the age of the fulnesse of Christe as the Apostle S. Paul saith Ephes 4. Unto this spirituall byrth by or from God had Esay respect with whome in his 49. thay The Church marueiling at the multitude of her Children crieth thus Who hath begotten these Seing I am barraine and desolate a Captiue and a Wanderer to and fro and who hath 〈…〉 them And the Lord God answereth her 〈…〉 I will lift vp mine hande to the Gentiles and set vp my Standerde to the people and they shall bring thy Sonnes in their armes and they shall carrie thy Daughters vpon their shoulders ibidem vers 22. And the Apostle S. Paule in the 4. Gal speaking of the Church saith But Ierusalem which is aboue is free which is the Mother of vs all For it is written Reioice thou barraine that bearest no Children Breake forth and crie thou that traueilest not For the desolate hath many mo children then she which hath an husband Esay 54. Augustine in this place vnderstandeth by the word Homo Christ by reason of the disposing of the nature humane taken vpon him which though it haue a godlye serâ—e or meaning yet is it not spoken in place Arnobius not marking the Hebrue sence Homo Homo vnderstandeth Adam begetting sonnes which may possesse the earth Christ begetting sonnes which may possesse the Heauens But these wordes make nothing for the purpose For he rehearseth before diuers nations purposing to shewe that not onelye the Iewes but also the Gentiles wheresoeuer in the world they be shal fully attain to that Citie of God and shall be borne anew in her that this second and spiritual byrth may not onely pertaine to Israell after the flesh but without respect of any person euen vnto all Nations For by the Commaundement of Christe The Gospell was to be preached vnto all Creatures Which thinge sith it bringeth regeneration all Nations are altogether to be admitted into this Citty That they might be borne anewe as Peter sayeth not of mortal seed but of immortal seed by the worde of the liuing GOD which abideth for euer 1. Peter 1. vers 23. For so our Lorde himselfe openeth openeth vnto vs all the Prophesies touching the saluation of the Gentiles in Math. 8. and Luke 13. Manye shall come from the Easte and the West from the North and the South and shall rest them with Abraham Isaac and Iacob in the Kingdome of GOD. Mathew 8 verse 11 Luke 13. vers 29. Wee haue also in this place a moste strong weapon against the argumentes of the Iewes and those which embrace Iudaisme who doe wrest and arrogate the promises made vnto this Spirituall SION to them and to their earthlye IERVSALEM as if these so great coÌ„mendations were spoken of the earthly Cittie And in our age the newe Donatistes and secte of Chiliastes most foolishlie also dreame with the Uncircumcised promising themselues earthelye thinges where the Spirite of Christe promiseth in the Prophetes with moste swéet allegories spirituall and celestiall thinges Unto which fanaticall persons also the moste delicate Table of the worde of GOD is turned into a Snare and Trappe yea into an offence and Retaliation Their eies are darkened that they sée not and their backes are alwaies made crooked that they sée nothing but earthlye thinges whereas meere Celestiall thinges are promised vnto the elect ones of GOD. For those Nations whome the Prophet and Psalmograph here reckoneth vp and affirmeth to bee borne in SION for a trueth are not borne in that earthlye SION and IERVSALEM Wherfore we doe most necessarilye vnderstande the verse to bee set downe as concerning the Spirituall SION For so the Apostles and Euangelistes as the Interpreters of the Prophetes taught by GOD haue instructed vs to vnderstand and handle the Oracles of the Prophets on that maner Christ the spirituall king a high Prieste of good thinges to come promised in the Gospell vnto a spirituall people thinges spiritual and eternall and not méere temporall good things wherfore as Augustine writing vpon the 39. Psal admonisheth vs Let no man promise himselfe that which the Gospel promiseth him not The scrip tures promise vs not in this worlde but tribulations persecutions Calamities encrease of sorrowes aboundance of temptations to these thinges let vs speciallye prepare vs least vnprepared wee vtterly fall These saith he That halfe verse The most High euen hee shall stablish the same hath in it more consolation then our slender capacity can comprehend It is a certaine special thing of those glorious â—ytles which are declared of y â— City of God For what can bee spoken more glorious and more excellent of the Church of God then that the same is not founded and estabished by humane handes strengthes or counsels but of the selfe same GOD the workmaister and preseruer of all things For euen he Iesus Christ the sonne of the highest God the power and wisedome of God the father was sent to be a Rocke foundation a Wall and couering of this holy Citie Here vpon it followeth that this Citie shall alwayes be safe from the tyranny of death and of the Diuel which hath dominion ouer Death much more then shall shee be safe from â—ickle fading and britle power of this world For seeing that God himselfe is the founder confirmer and defender thereof it cannot be destroyed nor subuerted yea the foundation of this Citie shall stand vnshaken or immoueable euen to the vtmost and for euer As it is in the 47. Psal God hath founded the same Citie his Church for euer vers 7. Therefore although it bée oppugned or assaulted of most cruell and most mighty enimies without all tâ—uces namely of Sinne feare of Death the Deuell the World and the Flesh yet it shall not