therfore to annymate vs in spirit hée confirmed the assured certaintie of his glorie and our glorie and of his glorious comming in the end of the world when he sayde to his Apostles that some there were among them that should not taste of death till they saw the sonne of man Math. 17. come in his kingdome and so in a visiō or spiritual dream by transfiguring him self vpon mount Tabor before Péeter Iames and Iohn he shewed the vision of his owne glorie and of our glorification by Moyses and Helyas appearing also with garments of immortalitie And thus he presented to their spirituall sight the excellencie of his comming again at the latter day when his face did shine as the sunne and his clothes as white as the light and so pure in all whitnes as no Fuller can make vppon the earth Peter 2.1 Wherfore Péeter the chéef beholder thereof dooth testifie saying With our eyes wee saw his maiestie euen then verely when hee receiued of God the Father honour and glorie and when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glorie Iohn 1. This is my deare beloued sonne in whōe I delight And Iohn witnesseth also the s ame That hee saw the glorie of him as the glorie of the onlye begotten sonne of the Father and the great shyne of his glorie appeared vnto Paule after his assention Acts. 9.26 aboue the brightnes of the sun by which hee stirreth vs to expect his glorious comming in the end of the world and inflame vs with the desire of glorifying that wee might walke as Children of the light and sonnes of God in all righteousnes of conuersation according to his Gospell that wee may bee heires of his glorious kingdome of eternall ioy when he shall appeare to saluation to chaunge our vile and corrupt earthly bodies to bee facioned and made lyke to his glorious bodie Phil. 13. Moreouer our blessed Sauiour doth giue vs great consolation and hope by such Reuelations of heauenly expectation of blessednes to come when hée presented to Iohn the vision of his moste wunderfull brightnes and preciousnes of glorie beeing entred into heauen and set down on the right hand of the maiestie on high by shyning shewing foorth the spirituall semblance of his pre-excellent beutie power and glorie in which he is Alpha and Omega the first and the last and was dead and is alyue for euermore and shall come againe quickly and will not tarrie any longer then till his Father hath made his enemies his foote-stoole Cor. 1.15 And now hee appeared in the preheminence of exceeding and incomparable glorie and power in as much as hée hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name then the Angells and creatures Heb. 10. seeing by him all thinges were created thinges that are in heauen Colloss 1 and thinges that are in earth thinges visible and thinges inuisisible whether they be maiestie lordship rule or power all thinges hath their creation and being by him and in him and that hee is the first begotten of all Creatures the head of the congregation and first beginning and begoten of the dead that in all thinges hee mihght haue the preheminēce beeing the only begotten sonne of GOD. So that according to his moste excellent worthines of preheminence hée being the cheife lyuing corner stone of the whole buylding and the eternall head of the Temple of his Father did appeare to Iohn sitting according to his hye diguitie in the cheif and moste royall seate of the Temple in the midst of the seauen Candlestickes Esdras 4. ◠according to the vision of Esoras Hée was in the midst of the multitude vppon mount Sion beeing a condigne place for him hauing the goulden and heauenly censour to offer vp the swette cense and odoures of the prayers and petitions of the whole Saincts and congregation wherof he is the head through his owne handes vppe before the glorious presence of the heauenly Father vp vpon the golden Alter of GOD. Reue 8 ◠beeing clothed with a linning garment down to the feete as whyte as snow Daniel 10. arcocding to the said vision to Daniell answering héerto being his robes of the eternall puritie and of his euerlasting and royall préesthood for euer according to the order of Melchesedech representing the sanctifying of his precious and eternall holynes and godlynes in prays ing the omnipotent Father of glorie for euer in his holy Ierusalem or Temple of glorified Saincts and hee was girded about the breast or paps with a golden girdell reprsenting the pure and approoued confirmation of eternall veritie vndfiled chastitie and sinceritie perfect obedience and eternall wisdome righteousnes and treuth to be conioyned to his glorious body and his head and his heare were most amiable white lyke pure wooll or snowe shewing thereby a setled grauitie of all true godlynes a modest reuerence of all true honor a confirmed experience of all deuine patience and the only coullor of purenes and clearnes of mynde without chaunge for euer and on his head a golden Crowne shewing that hée was the glorious king of kings Heb. 4. and his eyes as cleare lamps and cleare flames of fire shewing that all things were naked to his fight and that hée was the only light of all things and his armes and feete like fine polished brasse burning bright in the furnace or lyke pillers of fire shewing that he had a sure strength stedfastnes in all his waies bé eing tryed faithfull in doing the will of his Father and in performing all his promises and so tryed pure therin as brasse in the furnace and his body was lyke a Crisolite transparent with the beautifull sintillation of golde fire shewing foorth the absolute mirrour of his glorious beautie in all soundnes of one selfe same in him self eternall clearenes of glorie and maiestie and his voice as the voice of a multitude or sound of many waters shewing that he was the head chéeif of the multitude of his people that all voyces and languages weare as one voyce and as one language vnto him and in his and that they should do all things by the direction of his voice for they that be his doe heare his voyce Iohn 10. And now he shall leade the glorified saints vnto fountaines of liuing water And on his right hand seuen starres shewing that as hee doing his Fathers will doth sit on the right hand of the Father in heauen so his starres which are the ministers of his worde being conteined vnder the figure 7. the Sabboth day number of perpetuall rest and holinesse feeding his sheepe setting foorth his glorie and doing by him and in him the will of his father shall sit with him in his seat euen on his right hand as he hath done with his Father according to Daniel They that haue taught other shall shine as the starres and glister like the shining of heauē Daniel 12. And out of his mouth
righteousnes vnto eternall life That all that beleeue in him walking after the spirite and not after the fleshe might be pertakers of his heauenly kingdome and made the sonnes of God For which cause to the better confirmation of our faith and hope of saluation It is requisite to shewe the ordenance and promyse of God from the beginning touching our iustification in his sonne Iesus Christ that thereby wée may be stirred vp by the great goodnes of god for to séeke by Christe Cor. 1.2 the riches of his glorious inheritance vpon the Sainctes Ephe. 11. hée béeing ordained thereto of God before the beginninge of the worlde was made vnto our glory Touching whome in this Booke of mans glorification wée must especially looke vnto Christes two coÌ„mings séeing that hée is the Author and finisher of our redemption and hath adopted vs to be the sonnes of glory by appearing once in the fleshe to put sinne to flight by the offering vp of him self to death whome the Father raysed vp to lyfe and is entred into heauen to appeare now in the sight of God for vs and shall come againe to chaunge our vile bodyes Phil. 3. to be facyoned lyke to his glorious body Wherfore in that wée haue such an high Aduocate in heauen by whome wée haue an incorruptible crowne of blessednes propounded and set before vs Let vs walke woorthy and laudable vnto God according to the grace giuen vs in Iesus Christe that wée may obteine the rewarde thereof And now to consider the purpose of the heauenly Father how hée hath blessed vs in all manner of heauenly thinges by Chris te according as hée hath chosen vs that wée should be Saints through the beloued Iesus It followeth that wée kéepe alwayes a ioyfull remembrance that as the glory of the last house or teastament of God was greater then the first so is it in the manner of the two commings of Christ for first hée came in the humilitie of the fleshe to be to vs a sauing health béeing borne of the Virgin Mary by the woorking of the holy Ghoste very man and mortall and yet the same very GOD and immortall who béeing in the shape of God and equall with God Collos s â— Phil. 2. in whome dwelleth all the fulnes of the Godhead bodyly yet did he neuerthelesse make him self of no reputation takeing vpon him the shape of a seruant and became lyke vnto man and was founde in his apparell as a man humbling him self to all obedience for though hé e were Gods sonne yet learned hée obedyence Heb. 5. by those things which hée suffered and was made perfect Ihon. 1. and the cau se of eternall saluation vnto al that obey him according to Iohn In the beginning was the woord and the woord was with God and the woord was God and this woorde was made fleshe beeing the lyfe and light of men giuing power to all that beléeue in him to be the sonnes of God for it pleased the father to send his sonne in the sinfull fleshe béeing without sinne and by sinne dampned sinne in the flesh and loused the woorkes of the deuill Rom. â— Whome he maketh heire of all things béeing the brightnes of him self bearing vp all thinges with the woord of his power for so it was the will of the Father that in him should all fulnes dwell Heb. 1. and that in him all thinges should haue their béeing that hée might be all in all Thus the Almighty Creator hath performed his blessed promyse Collossians â— when hée sayde that the séede of the Woman shall breake the Serpents head and when long after he sayd vnto Abraham vnto thy séede will I giue this land Gen. 3. for one that come out of thine owne body shall be thyne heire and thy seede shall bee as the starres in number And Abraham beléeued the Lord and it was imputed to him for righteousnes Gen. 15. And also the Lord sayde againe to Abraham when he was 89 yeare olde I will make my couenant betwéen mée thée and will multiply thé e excéedingly for behold my testameÌ„t is with thée that thou shalt be a father of many nations my bond betwéen mée thée thy séed after thée shal be an euerlasting testament Gen. 17. I wil be good to theÌ„ giue theÌ„ the land wherin thou art a stranger euen all the lande of Canaan for an euerlasting possession and wil be their God for Saâ—a shall beare a sonne and thou shalt call his Name Isac and she bare Abraham a sonne euen the same season which the Lord had appointed Thus it pleased the Almightie God to choose vs and not we him shewing foorth hereby the abundancie of his loue and mercie in that he hath mercie vpon theÌ„ which are not yet in the worlde and in that he declareth his great goodnes in multiplying his louing kindnesse towarde those that are present and to them that are past and to them that are to come for after that Adam thorough sinne brought in the corruption of nature that the euill seede of wickednesse was sowen in all mens hearts whereby death raigned by meanes of sinne then this darnell and cockle of vice and iniquitie did grow ripe in the first generations of Adam that they walked after their owne stubborne and fleshly will neglecting Gods goodnes That the Lord was thereby prouoked to bring his water floud vpon the world and destroy all mankind except Noye and his houshold And then after that the ofspring of Noye was againe multiplied to a great people by processe of time they waxed also vngodly and wicked but the Lord had giuen his raine bowe for a couenant that he would neuer destroy the world with watermore And then the most highest did choose him a man from among them whose name was Abraham whom he loued and to him onely God shewed his wil and made an euerlasting couenant with him promising him as is aforesaid that he will neuer forsake his seede and so in his old age gaue him Isaac the first testimonie of Gods promise and couenant begun so faithfully performed in Christ Iesus to the ioy and comfort of man in that we see euidently that God is righteous and true and hath giuen vs an assured hope of our election that by that onely seede of Abraham we shal enioy the euerlasting possession of that new blessed land of Canaan the first lande of promise Therefore this record we must beare in our selues that God is true and that what hee do or say can no man change what he promiseth he can not but perfourme And nowe the more to confirme this ioye faith hope which Abraham our first father of beliefe had to God in respect of the birth of Isac and prosperitie of his seede The Lorde to our example tryed whether righteous Abraham would beare an immutable minde towardes his God to loue him aboue all the dearest thinges which he
souereigne Kings Quéenes yée swéet Lordes and Ladies yee loouing Fathers and mothers yée wise Maisters mistresses yee obedient sonnes and daughters yée diligent and dutiefull seruants and maides reioyce and be glad and behold your king and precious Sauiour Christe ryding into Ierusalem lowly and humbly and now aryse and lyft vp your eyes of repentance to heauen and reioyce and beholde how hée is ready to come in all glory and maiestie with all the powers of heauen to crowne you with glorious and heauenly glorification Therfore cast of from your hartes the euill mantell of pryde disdaine arrogancie haughtines vnmercifulnes frowardnes sinne and vnrighteousnes and put on the mantel of Christes humblenes lowlynes mercifullnes goodnes holynes and righteousnes that you may mé ete Christe with ioy and receiue the incorruptible crowne of eternall glorie for thus saithe the Lord I will set his dominion in the sea and his right hand in the floodes he shall call mee Psalme 89. thou art my Father my God and my strong saluation and I will make him my first borne higher then the Kings of the earth Esay 55. my mercy will I keepe for him for euermore and my couenance shall stand fast with him his seede also will I make to indure for euer and his throne as the dayes of heauen of whome hée sayeth My seruaunt whome I will giue for a witnesse Esay 52. prince and captaine to the people will I keepe to my selfe hee is myne elect in whome my soule is pacified I will giue him my spirit that hee may shewe foorth iudgement and equitie among the Gentiles hee shall not be an outcryer nor high mynded his voice shall not bee heard in the streates a brused â—eede shall hee not breake and the s moking flackes shall hee not quench but faithfully and truely shall hee giue iudgement hee shall neither bee ouer seene nor hastie that hee may restore righteousnes to the earth for I the Lord hath called the in righteousnes and do lead the by thee hand therfore will I also defend and giue thee for a couenaÌ„t of the people and to be the light of the Gentiles that thou mayest open the eyes of the blynde let out the prisoders and them that fit in darknes out of the doungeon house In this the Prophet foretelling that Christe shoulde come in the fleshe death shewe that by his meanes only wée shall bee brought to an attonment and peace with GOD the Father expressing the perfectionn of looue and pleasure which GOD the Father hath in his sonne Christe béeing one selfe same nature in another according to Mathew Math. 3.17 This is that belooued Sonne in whome is my delight and according to the saying of the Prophet Dauid in the second Psalme Thou art my sonne this day haue I begotten thée and héerin wé e learne that if Christe is so béeloued of God béeing God according to the fortie nine Psalme the Father of heauen saith to his sonne God Thy seat shall be for euer and euer then how muche are wée bound to looue so beloued a God and Sauiour to vs giuing him all the praise honor and thankes euermore lyfting vp pure hands for so great treasures of vertue and goodnes for his cléernes of trouth and iudgement for the light and brightnes of his moste holy and blessed doctrine for his aboundant swéetnes of his excéeding and bountiful loone toward vs moste miserable sinners in that hée of his meere mercie and goodnes hath broughte vnto vs redemption and delyuerance out of the bondage of sathan sinne and death calling vs to holynesse of lyfe thereby by imitating him to be made by righteousnesse the sonnes of God and pertakers of the euerlasting kingdome And further the Lord saith My seruant shall deale wis ely therfore shall he be magnified exalted and greatly honored like as the multitude shall meruaile at him because his couÌ„tenaÌ„ce shal be so deformed and hard fauoured aboue the sonnes of men yea he shall haue neither beautie nor fauour wheÌ„ we look vpoÌ„ him there shal be no fairnes in him we shall haue no lust vnto him hee shall be the most simple and dispised of all which yet hath good experience in sorrowes and in firmities but wee shall reckon him so vile and base that we shall not regard him how be it of a trueth hee only takes away our infirmitees Whervpon consider according to Paule that Christ dooth make him self of no reputation and taketh vpon him the shape of a seruant and became lyke vnto man and was found in his apparell as a man and that he abasing him self in respect of all worldly wisdome was of the wis e according to the wisdome of this world dispised scoffed and s corned at hée béeing him self verry wisdome it self and the fountaine therof and he being beautie it self and the Author of all beautie and fairnes woulde shewe him selfe without beautie and fauour to condemne the vanitie of fleshly beautfe and extoll the excellencie and woorthines of the spirituall and heauenly beautie of the soule wherfore O yée Children and Daughters of men yee are become so nyce so arogant and coy because of your faces and so proude of your beauties Come from your vaine looking glasses The contempt of fleshly beautie and beholde héer I offer vnto you the bright shyning glasse of all excellencie euin Christe your King and Sauiour the Author and Giuer of all beauties and godlynesse to beholde him béeing without fauoure and fairnesse beeing lowely mé eke and most humble being simple and not gorgeous how hee condemned and dispised your vaine fleshly pleasure and gaynes euen in the cleere example of his owne person giuing you himselfe for a rule that you reioice not in apparell nor vainely conceaue of your vaine flesh and outward comlines of nature but onely in the beautie of your soules by adorning and decking your inward man with all spirituall rayments of holines and precious ornaments of righteousnes which will neuer decay whereas the flesh and all that pertaine to his furniture is as S. Peter saith as grasse and all the glorie of man is as the flower of grasse Pet. 1.1 the grasse therof withereth and the flower fadeth away but the word of God endureth for euer Moreouer the prophet saith that we shall dispise him and yet he beareth our paine Esay 53. and we shall so contemtuously thinke of him as that we shall iudge him as though he were plagned and cast downe of God wheras he notwiths tanding shal be wounded for our offences and smitten for our wickednes for the paine of our punishment shall bee laid vpon him and with his stripes shall we be healed hee shall be pained and troubled and shall not open his mouth he shall be led as a sheepe to be slaine The prophesie of Christes death yet shall he be as stil as a lambe before the shearers and not open his mouth he s hall be had away his cause not
his children to be thy brethren Therfore learne looue pacience and mercy by Christe that in whatsoeuer estate you be to bee therewith contented holding fast the faith and patience of Christe Phil. 4. béeing assuredlye perswaded that the ready and compendious way to come vnto Gods fauour is to looue and imbrace Christe and his woord with a pure and faithfull hart and to loue one an other for if we loue one an other sayeth Iohn God dwelleth in vs and his looue is perfect in vs Iohn 14. for he that loueth God mu st loue his brother also though he be an enemie for sayeth Christe looue your enemies blysse them that cursse you doo good to thē that hate you Math. 5. and in so dooing we shall follow the example of our sauiour Christe and be Gods Children in conuersation of holynes and goodnes And thus Christe the Author and finisher of our redemption hauing performed his Fathers will by preaching first him selfe the Commaundements of his Father and by diuers signes wounders and miraclrs done according to his will to confirme the power of his Father Heb. 5. did in his fleshe offer vp prayers and supplications with strong crying and teares vnto him that was able to saue him from death and was also heard because of his godlynes and now vpon the Crosse yéelded vp his soule into the hands of his Father who reysed him from death and he is ascended vp to heauen and is set on the right hand of the Maiestie of the Father according to the saying of the Prophet The Lord sayd vnto my Lord sit on my right hand till I make thy enemies thy footestoole Wherby conceiue how Christe béeing promysed afore by God and his holy Prophets in the holy Scriptures to come of the seede of Abraham as perteining to the fleshe Psalme 19◠and declared to be the sonne of God with power of the holy Ghoste that sanctifieth was borne of the Virgin Mary by the imbracing of the holy Ghos te the holy Virgin being eternally appointed to this great mistery to be the Mother of Iesus for the inuisible power of the Godhed did ouer s hadowe the whole body and mynde of the most holy Virgin without any hurt or detriment of her chastitie so that the worke of his conception was not of man but of the holy Ghoste by the in comprihensble power of insperation for saieth the Lord by Esay Esay 7 Beholde a Virgin shal be with chylde and shall bring foorth a sonne and they shall call his name Emanuel God with vs and so the Angell sayd to Ioseph that which is conceiued in her is of the holy Ghoste shee shall bring foorth a sonne and thou shalt call his name Iesus Math. 1. for hee shall saue his people from their sinnes hee shall be great called the sonne of the highest and sonne of God and the Lord shall giue vnto him the seat of his father Dauid and hee shall reigne ouer the house of Iacob for euer and of his kingdome shall be no end Luk. 1. euen as hee promised to our fathers Abraham and his seede for euer So that wée haue such an Aduocate with the Father Iesus Christe the mercifull as hath put down through his death and passion the deuill that hath the Lordship ouer death and hath s poyled rule and power and triumphs ouer them in his owne person and hath nayled the cursse of the law to his crosse and hath caryed captiuitie captiue vp to heauen beeing their set down on the right hand of God Colloss 2. being able to saue them that come to God by him séeing he euer lyueth to make intercessiō for vs Heb. 7. who with one offering made perfect for euer thē that are sanctified Heb. 10. Wherfore wee may clearely as by the light of the Sun beames sée conceiue that they doe lay another foundation then the Apostle Paul dooth héere lay that teache the people to vse any other Aduocat or intercessor then Chist or to vse intercessors to Christe which euermore is him self an intercessor for vs whōe we know apparently by euident scriptures that he liueth and is with God in glory their making intercession for vs able to doe it by power of his victory and because he euer liueth and was ordayned to that eternall misterie for it is written that the whole kingdome doe lye on his shoulders the paines of our sins rest vpon his woundes and stripes and our whole redemptiō is only by him so that it repugneth against Christes glory who is crowned with glory and honour for suffering death for vs to offer intercession and meditation to Saincts to pray to Ladies and Churrh-roodes and to wāder a pilgrimage to offer to picturde images of Sainctes which is strong delusion and horrible abhomination and verry stubble and straws of a strauge foundation of erronious doctrin perniciously sowen amōg the people which the Lord in one day shall consume with fire And besides séeing wée are made perfect with one only offering made by Christe him selfe through the spirit that sanctifieth Heb. 10. then consider from what foundatiō those vain erronious masses doe come and be not deceiued with thē for Christe hath once offered him selfe a sufficient sacrifice for vs the iust for the vniust for to bring vs to God whose blood clenseth vs from all sinne for Christe hath deliuered vs from the cursse of the law and was made accursed for vs that the blessing of Abraham might come vppon the Gentles Gal. ◠Therfore let vs be thankfull and pray only vnto God by Christe and vse no other intercessors of our owne conceites imagined Pet. 13. but let vs consider how much God setteth out vnto vs his aboundant looue that while wée were enemies sinners his only begotten sonne Iesus should dye for vs being killed as perteining to the fleshe quickned in the spirit who thus suffered for vs to reconcile vs to God and yet did no sinne neither was there guyle found in his mouth who when hée was reuiled Pet ◠reuiled not againe when hée suffered hée threatned not but patiently cōmitted and delyuered the only cause vnto him that iudgeth righteously and thus his owne self bare our sinnes in his body on the trée that wée should bee delyuered from s inne and lyue in righteousnes Esay 53. for whosoeuer dooth truely and purely looue Christe and imbrace the faithe of his Gos pell can not but doo the woorkes of righteousnes and obedyence lyke to righteous Abraham otherwise perswade thy conscience and be not deceiued in thy conceit but that thy looue to Christe is colde faint and brickle if thou hast imbraced the knowledge and faith of the Gospell and yet doost not the woorkes of righteousnes and holynes for then thou art yet carnall and not spirituall hauing not yet crucified the olde Adam wherfore consider that by grace wée are made safe through faith and that not
of our selues for it is the gift of God and commeth not of woorkes Ephe. 2. least any should boa st him self for we are his woormanship created in Christ Iesus vnto good woorks that wee shoulde walke in them so that none can looue Christe in purenes of hart but that of verry force hée will walke in good woorks as thinges that are vnpossible to bée seperated from him that is sanctified with the spirit of adoption and grace for as Christ is the fountaine of all holynes and righteousnes and of all grace and goodnes so it must needes followe that whome Christe hath sanctified with his Spirit that they must of necessitie doo the woorkes of grace and righteousnes so long as they labour and indeuour to be renued and confirmed in the spirit of grace which wée receiuing and takeing of Christe must of force confesse that without it wée haue no power to crucifie our fleshe and to resist sinne and therfore by it wée haue power to mortifie our earthly members and to doo the woorkes of righteousnes whereby it is moste euident and plaine that by the grace giuen by Christe through faith wée may assuredly and boldely perswade our s elues that wee are only iustified and saued Therefore saith Peter Pet. 1.1 blessed be God the father of our Lord Iesus which through his aboundant mercie begat vs againe to a liuely hope by the resurrection of Christe from death to inioy an inheritance immortall and vndefiled reserued in heauen for vs after which the prophets inquired and searched prophesying of the grace that shuld come vnto vs by the spirite of of Christ which testified before of the passions that should come vnto him and the glorie that should follow after for by Christ we are made spirituall and not carnall whose spirite doth certifie our spirite that we are the sonnes of God and heires annexed with him who was ordained before the worlde was made that by him our faith and hope might be in God so that our iustification come not by the deedes of the law but by the faith of Iesus Christ according to Paule Thess â—â— God hath from the beginning chosen you to saluation through sanctifying of the spirite and through the beleeuing of the truth whereunto he called you by the gospell for Christe is the end of the law to iustifie all that beleeue Rom. 8 Gal. 6. walking not after the flesh but after the spirite for what soeuer a man soweth that shall he reape if he sow in the flesh hee shall of the flesh reape corruption but if he sow in the spirite he shall of the spirite reape life euerlasting for they that are Christes Gal. 5. haue crucified the flesh with the appetites and lustes thereof for Christ hath called vs to holynes and not to vncleannes and hath called vs out of bondage into libertie from the curse of the law vnto grace from darknes to light from death to life from the spirite of feare to a liuely hope from a earthly mansion to an heuenly kingdome from transitorie glorie to euerlasting glorification therefore stand grounded and established in faith not moued away from the gospell but stand fa st in the liuely hope to obtaine the glorie that commeth by Christ Rom. 8. being vnfainedly pers waded that there is no damnation to them that are in Christ Iesus walking after the spirite and hauing their conseruation in heauen For Christ our sauiour sitting now in the right hand of God in his maiestie Ephe. 1. was before the world was by whom wee are predestinated heires according to the purpose of him that worketh all things after the purpose of his owne will that through his gospell should be brought life and immortalitie to all that do beleeue in his sonne Iesus Christ the seede of promise to Abraham who now is declared openly whom we looke for to come shortly in the glorie of his Father and all holy Aungels with him in all power and maiestie And that all eies shall see him and they also that pearsed him so that al kindreds of the earth shall mourne when they behold Christ comming in the cloudes Reu. 1. to reward euery man according to his deedes therfore it behoueth vs to watch and pray and to become new creatures thereby making our election sure by holding fast his gospell in a stedfast faith by walking after righteousnes that we may ouercome and be found faithfull at the appearance of Christ comming in glorie that we also may be crowned with glorie ioyfully saying Blessed is the kingdome that commeth in the name of him Mark 11. that is Lord of our Father Dauid Hosanna in the highest Ephe. 1. BLessed be God the Father of our Lorde Iesus Christ which hath blessed vs with all maner of spirituall blessings in heauenly things by Christ according as he had chosen vs before the foundation of the world was laid that we shoulde bee Saintes through loue who ordained vs before through Christ to be heires vnto him selfe according to the good pleasure of his will to the praise of the glorie of his grace wherewith hee hath made vs accepted through the beloued Iesus by whom wee haue redemption through his bloud euen the forgiuenes of sinnes according to the riches of his grace Therefore to him be all honor and glorie world without end Amen THE GLORIOVS and beautifull garland of mans glorification CAP. 2. How man shall bee chaunged at the sounde of the laste troump from mortalitie to immortalitie and from an erthly nature to an euerlasting nature and appeare before the iudgement seat of Chris t to be rewarded according to his deedes eyther with eternall reproufe or els with euerlasting glorification SVch is the eternall ordenance of the Almightie God touching our saluation in his Sonne Iesus Christe that all men ought too knowe that as by a man came death so by a man come the resurrectioÌ„ of the dead for as by Adam all dye so by Christe shall all bee made alyue according to Iohn Iohn 5. The houre shall come in the which all that are in their graues shall heare Christes voice and shall come foorth they that haue done good to the resurrection of lyfe and they that haue done euill to the resurrection of dampnation Esdras 22. as the Lord sayd by the Prophet Those that be dead will I rayse vp againe from their places Daniell 12. bring them out of their graues and they that sleepe in the dust of the earth shall awake some to euerlasting lyfe Acts. 17. some to perpetuall shame and reproufe as it is in the Acts that the Lord hath appointed a day in the which hée will iudge the world according to righteousnes by that man Christe whome hee hath appointed and hath offered faith to all men after that reysed him from death to whome saieth Iohn the Father hath coÌ„mitted all iudgement because that all men should honor the sonne euen as they
euery parte doeth the selfe same thing as the Spirite and Lambe doeth leade them Coloss 1. hauing the preheminence so that for euermore they remaine glorified with euerlas ting life peace vnitie and puritie of all perfection and brightnesse in the sight of the Almightie for all thinges with them are Symbolicall to Gods Maiestie That as Iesus Christ our Lorde and Redéemer is the Sonne of God begotten of God God of God and God in God that their insearchable nature is such that they are both one in it selfe And the Holy Ghost from them proceeding beeing the euerlasting Spirite of the euerlasting Father and Sonne being of inseparable nature all together in it selfe so that being three persons in Trinitie yet is it one euerlasting vnitie for in them is one Communion of Godhead that the fulnesse of the Godhead dwelleth in the three persons Almightie both bodely and Substantially And nowe as this euerlasting power and Godhead is coadvnited a perfect Trinitie in Vnitie and Vnitie in Trinitie So we of God to God and in God are adopted Saintes of holinesse by Iesus Christ our Sauiour the eternall worde sonne of God by whome we are made in most excellent true resemblance of Godly nature partakers of Gods glorie and purenesse Phil. 3. being ordeined of God to bee fashioned like the Sonne of God Ephe. 1. That what perfect coniunction of Godhead is betweene the trinitie and the vnitie The like heauenly harmonie by adoption shall be for euer of the Saintes of newe Ierusalem adopted true sonnes of God by the Sonne of God so fashioned like to his glorious bodie Phil. 3. So that as the euerlasting seate of Gods maiestie his eternal and incomprehensible place of power doth euer remaine with the Godhead as an eternall brightnes of the most holyest seate of all holinesse that where the Godhead is there is the s hining of his incomprehensible seate of brightnesse as a place eternall and incomprehensible agréeing to an Almightie and incomprehensible god and so an Almightie God with an incomprehensible place of glorie as one in a seate euerlasting vnsearcheable and vnmeasurable of all omnipotent Maiestie being an eternall creator and maker of a vniuersal seate of glorie neuer departing from the same as an immutable God in an immutable vniuersall and incomprehensible seate of honour and power So the Saintes and blessed elect haue a new mansion and glorious Citie descended from god in which they abide a kingly Priesthoode for euer And they shall neuer goe out of it but shall sit therein with Christ the Sonne of God being his seate of glorie giuen of the Father Reuel 3. where the elect shall s it with the Sonne of God in his kingdome as the Sonne did sit in his fathers seate of incomprehensible Maiestie And nowe such is the heauenly s ympathie and consembable resemblance of our heauenly mansion or newe Ierus alem answering to the incomprehensible seate of the glorie of the eternall maiestie That as the incomprehensible seate of glorie is euer with God so our new Ierusalem is euer with the saints being an euerlasting and heauenly clothing Cor. 2.5 with which the elect are euermore clothed That where the first begotten Sonne of God and by him the adopted sonnes of God doe go mooue or alleuate them selues towarde the omnipotent God in like sort doeth the eternal tabernacle or seat as a glorious clothing or euerlasting garmēt with a glorified body continuing inseperably for euer And thus wée are conioyned as one harmonie and perfect consent of many vnited in one cōmunion with Gods holines so glorified in the Author and Father of glorie clothed with the substanciall pertakeing of his goodly seat of glory according to Esay I will make a new Ierusalem saith the Lord that shall be glorious through all posterities Esay 4. ◠Peace shall be the ruler and Righteousnes the officer the walles shal be called helth and the gates the prayse of God and God shall bee thy euerlasting light and thy God shall bee thy glorie And she shall be a crowne in the hand of the Lord and a glorious garland in the hand of her God and shall be called a new name the pleasure of God in her and God loueth her and god shall marry him self to her sonnes and as a brydegrome glad of his bryde so god of her Wherby appeare the infinit loue of God to his saincts and of them to God the inseperable coniunction of the glorie of God to new Ierusalem and to her sonnes and the reciprocate coniunction and euerlasting confirmation of them to him in substantiall glorification so that wee shall be in misterie as one pure vnspotted people sanctified in the participiation of the holynes of God being a multitude and yet one heauenly body vnited to one only holy and omnipotent God and thus the Saincts shall be ioyful with glorie behoulding the moste resplendent beautie of God ouer their heads lifting to him with one consent of heauenly melodie all prayse and honor euerlastingly Otherfore yée heauenly Congregation of sainctes sing prayses night and day to your God of glorie that you may dwell before God for euer And thus it is infinit to expresse and moste ioyfull to beholde the admirable treasures and riches layd vp for vs in Christ to come and it is excéeding gladsome to thinke what a plenteous costly pleas ant and glorious feast the Lord hath prepared by Christe for vs And let it reioyce you to the ground of your harts to consider how the Lord shall deck you lyke Bridegromes with the garments of heauenly helth and high blessednes and let your soules leap within you and daunce for ioy to think how you shall be decked with the garmēts of Gods beautie and be you mery in righteousnes and run cheerfully to godlynes of life that you may pertake with this euerlasting happines of new Ierusalem the glorie wherof is so excéeding that the high amplitude thereof cannot be expressed vnto which the spirit of God sayeth to thée come and your bryde her selfe euen Ierusalē saith come Therfore so run the race of your lyfe that thou maiest go into her and taste her water of lyfe there beholding the maiestie of GOD with all abundant ioyfulnes and so remaining in euerlasting glorification with Christ for euer and euer * ⎠* ALleluia saluation and glory and honour and power and might Reu. 19. bee as crybed to the Lord our God for true and righteous are his iudgementes therefore prayse the Lord God all yee that are his seruants and ye that feare him both small and great for the Lord our God omnipotent reigneth so that let vs reioyce and be glad and giue honour to him for the mariage of the Lamb is come and his wife made her self ready and to her was graūted that shee should be arrayed with pure and goodly raynes and the raines be the righteousnes of Saincts and now happie are they which are
saying Ye men and brethren girde you with the girdle of Gods veritie for through his abuÌ„dant mercie he hath begotten you again Peter 1.1 not with golde siluer but with the precious blood of his owne deare Sonne Iesus Chris t as of a Lambe vndefiled and without spot that ye should enioy an inheritance immortal and glorious prepared in heauen for you Therefore trust perfectly to the grace that is brought by Iesus Christ walking after the spirit abstaining froÌ„ fleshly lustes and fighting against the workes of darkenesse that your conuersation may be holy in the grace of Christ whereto hee hath called you through faith to saluation thus she neuer ceaseth making such godly perswasions to allure men to winne the glorie of Christes kingdome 2. True Religion And then preasing forwarde to come to the seconde staire after the veritie of the trueth receiued there stoode another beautifull Ladie arayed with all the shining garments that the first ladie conteined in her treasure house of trueth Reuel 12. for she was clothes with the brightnesse of the Sonne the cleare worde of God and the moone vnder her feete the righteous life of the true congregation and Church of Christ was her foote-stoole and the glorie of twelue starres ouer her head the doctryne of the Apostles and the righteousnes of their lyfe was her glorie wherewith shée decked and that came vp to her vpon this staire for shée was the nurcing mother of Christes little Children her name was true Religion Iohn 6. whome the righteous branch of Dauid did holde faste by the hand and lynked her with a chaine of golde of vnseperable loue vnto the first virgin her sister called the light of the Gospell that whosoeuer came to imbrace the first Lady with true sincere loue mu st also by the golden chaine of feruent loue come vp higher vnto this swéet virgin of true Religion Heb. â— to imbrace her giftes of grace hope and peace to professe stedfastly the true profession of Christe with all humblenes reuerence and obediynce vnto God then these being not all the stayres that confirmed a verteous man in the way to euerlasting life 4. Godlynes and perfect Righteousnes These Ladies pointed him to looke vp to the third golden stayre and there was a trym méek virgin very demure and humble euen as white and as méek as a dooue being rayed clothed with pure goodly raines of silke the garments of righteousnes down to the ground and she stood vppon the corner stone of Sion and shée was rich and had no end of her treasures Reue. 22. Pet. 1.1 she was fast linked with the golden chaine of vnseperable looue to the other two virgins her sisters that who so came vp to them she for her goodly raines and treasures sake stirred them vp with feruent spirit to come vp higher to s tandde with her and walke vpon the corner stone of Sion wher she by name being true godlines did set vp righteousnes in the ballance and filled all commers to her with the frute therof for she was as the shining light her beautie as the burning lamp did giue them the rich garments of righteousnes which the two first Ladies had made ready for them to weare which notwithstanding without this virgins asistance did shew in them naked and bare for shée being by name true and pure Godlynes did deck all men that had receiued the light of the Gospel and the profession of true Religion with the garments of health and precious armour of God Ephe. 6. putting vppon them the breast plate of righteous nes the sandalles of peace the shéeld of faith the helmet of saluation the bond of looue swoorde of the spirit saying Now walke yee as Children of the light Thess 1.5 and Children of the day for they that are Christes haue crucified the flesh with the appetites and lusts therof Gal. 5. and so walke in the spirit and doe the frutes therof and be not weary of well dooing but tread down the lustes of the fleshe which woorketh contrarie to the spirit to kéepe you back from this golden staire vnto whiche you are come wherin shine as lights in the world Iohn 1 5. holding fast the word of life and then aske any thing at Gods hand according to his will and he heareth your petitions Phil. 2. thus she reioyced all commers with the aboundant swéetnes of heauenly conuersation 4. Constancie perseuerance in righteousnes to the end And now preasting vp to the mark appointed the high calling in Christe these Virgins appointed a righteous man to go vp to the fourth golden stayr wher was a pure modest and méek Virgin clothed with a garment dipt in blood setting her feet very fast vpon the precious corner stone of Sion being lynked with the vnseperable and inuincible golden chaine of perfect loue stedfastnes of faith Reue. 19 impugnable patience vnto the other thrée Ladies her Sisters and her name was called Constancie perseuerance in the trouth vnto the end And then you might see many come running feircely out of the house of Esaw Pet. 1 1. Iames. 1.4 to make sharpe battels and ass aultes against this virgin shooting many arrowes of persecutions afflictions temptations and tribulations to beate her of that golden stair and to kill her and there you might see that shée was sore wounded that her garments were blooddie for the Lambs sake â—â—pe 3. Rom 8. Heb. 12. Cor. 2.1.52 and shée did holde fast the treuth and her faith did coÌ„tinue vnshaken of all the darts of persecutions and shée had a great Adamant in her hand and vppon it was written the wordes which the Lamb of glorie spake to Iohn from heauen to draw thereby all them that were come by grace in Christe to the other thrée stayres to come vp to her Reue. 23 to walke with constant faith and patience vpon the glaciall sea of perseruerance to the end and then shée sayd to them that were belowe come vp hether boldely and feare none of those thinges which you shall suffer for beholde the holy one of Israell that set vppon Dauids stoole byddeth you be of good cheare for I am with you saieth hée to the end of the world and hée saieth vnto Iohn Feare not I am the first and the last Reu. 1. and am aliue and was dead and beholde I am a liue for euermore and haue the keyes of hell and death Holde therfore fast the patience of my woordes to the end and thou shalt be safe Reu. 2. for whosoeuer ouercommeth and is faithfull to mée vnto death I wil giue him a crowne of lyfe and will make him a glorious piller in the Temple of my God Reu. 3. and shall sit for euer with me in my seat in new Ierusalem and thus this goodlie Ladie did comfort all commers with such heauenly consoation of Christes owne wordes who is faithfull