our godly wel doings At the first to worke this great 〈◊〉 the grace of God is in vs but when we once feele this sacred power wee are willingly ledde on to goodnes for the grace of God is with vs yet in all this wee haue here no absolute perfection but expect the consummation thereof in glory Tell mee then Beloued in the Lord is not this a mysterie a gâ—eat mysterie the Great Mysterie of Godlinesse the end whereof tendeth to the glory of God who hereby regenerateth his children prescribeth them Lawes they obey them and promiseth them Heauen and they are sure of it Is not this Mysterie Greaâ— and excellent that assureth them that know it that they are elected is a declaration to our selues and others that wee doe beleeue and is a performance of our dutie in part And lastly is not that Great the end wherof tendeth to the Conuersion of vnbeleeuers who seeing our good workes in this profession of Godlines glorifie our heauenly Father and is the confirmation and setling of our brethren that doe beleeue Oh sacred mysterie of celestiall happines Thrice happy are they therfore who vnderstand this Mysterie of Godlinesse For Without controuersie for that is the preamble of this Scripture Great is the Mysterie of Godlinesse and such as are of the generation of those that seeke the Lord will with all diligence modesty sobriety meekenesse and peace search to know this Mysterie laying aside all contentions quarrels strifes and enuyings which distract and disturbe mens hearts and hinder men from beeing good Let Godlines be our Helena and the truth will assuredly appeare vnto vs as the learned Earle of Mirand wrote to Hermolaus Barbarus in this case For it seuereth from it all the Heâ—trogenean and mongrill boastings of curious speculations the specious glitterings of mans abstruse wisedome as humane traditions fanatical Enthusiasmes and grosse commixtures of Moses rites with Christianisme And they that know this Mysterie of Godlines lay aside all spleanie Controuersies seeke onely to know God whom he hath sent Christ Iesus whereby they shall find themselues by the power thereof changed from the fashions of the World the olde man the first Adam into the blessings of the new man Christ Iesus the second Adam that is clothed with righteousnesse and grace They shall find that Godlinesse is the richest treasure yea to bee more excellent more magnificent then all Maiesty enriching them with those blessings that many Kings and Monarches of the earth could neuer attaine vnto Because Godlinesse shall secure them fâ—om all vexations and incursions of the Diuell whatsoeuer for God will tender them As the apple of his owne eye and commaund his Angels to pitch their tents round about them There is the safety of this Godlinesse euen a wall of fire to keepe out their enemies Godlinesse shal beautifie them for they shall be decked with Grace whereby God shall accept them For his people his sonnes and daughters for his Spouse and fer his exceeding great delight There is the grace of this Godlinesse euen the rayes of Sion Satâ—an and all the powers of darkenesse shall bee subiect vnto them that are godly their memorials shall bee written in Gods Register And all things shall worke together for their good yea euen their sinnes as Saint Augustine noteth There is the victory of this Godlinesse euen a glorious conquest which many Kings and Monarches neuer atchieued Godlinesse shal enlighten their darkenesse as Saint Augustine sayeth For it is the Mirrour of the purified sâ—ule And Dauid testifieth That God is his light and sure saluation There is the light of this Godlinesse in Gods light euen a verie view of Heauen If we be ignorant Wee shall all bee taught of God yea our knowledge in the very seeking of this Mysterie shall surpasse our Tearchers shall surpasse our Ancients There is the true wisedome of this Godlinesse Godlinesse shall comfort vs in despaire O how great is the goodnes he hath layde vp for the that trust in him euen before the sons of men There is the fauour of this Godlinesse The voyce of ioy and gladnes is in the dwellings of the righteous There is the sound solace of this Godlinesse No maruell then if Peter sayd It is good being here maister Indeede there is no good being any where else For holinesse becommeth his house for euer For what euill can come vnto vs when Gods left hand is vnder our head and his right hand doth embrace vs. There is the protection of this Godlinesse This Mysterie of godlinesse quieteth the distresses of conscience The godly man is as confident as a Lion for the name of the Lord is his strong tower he runneth vnto it and is safe There is the securitie of this godlinesse Not carnall securitie such as the custome of the world and the vse of sinne doth oftimes besot aud infatuate the hearts of Worldlings withall For vnlesse I were Cleane either indeede or in desire or indeuour I should suspect the feare of God had neuer once come into my heart how soeuer the subtiltie of Sathan and sinne had secured me for the feare of the Lord is cleane But when a Christian feeles in himselfe first Aversion from euil whereby he hateth sinne and of that hatred a double sorrow to proceede One of the world working death when wee are plunged in deuouring feares and sorrowes through the sight of our sin and an apprehension of Gods iust iudgements for the same by the rigour of the Law the other a godly sorrow working repentance by the spirit of adoption and deliuering vs from the spirit of bondage to feare any more wee are not idle or luld in securitie but straightway wee fall to crie Father and labor after a most godly sort to rest in this so holy a resolution By carefulnesse to looke more warily to our wayes by cleering of our selues to keepe a good conscience in all things by indignation to disdaine euer to bee brought againe vnto the former slauery of Sathan by Feare to dash out all relapses and backslidings lest our ends be worse theÌ„ our beginnings by vehement desire to set our affections aboue by zeale to draw others out of the fire and by reuenge to abâ—idge our selues of many things we impotently and foolishly seeke and search after in this world And hauing thus approued our selues that we are turned from the euill in a true detestation thereof wee go on in our conuersion to the good which is the other part of our Godlines euen the quickning of our spirits by Gods grace by illumination of our minds in the sight of those things which leade vs on to heauen by renouation of our minds in the obedience of our once sullen and froward hearts but now plyable and penitentiall hearts to Gods counsell by reformation of all our disordered affections in setling
great glory to iudge both the quicke and the dead Come Lord Iesus Come quickly O holy spirit of purity and power assist my weake and feeble spirit to bee lift vp vnto thee in prayer Oh righteous God and most merciful Father in Iesus Christ to whome the spirites of the iust are always and euery where lift vp remember mee in thy great goodnes For I acknowledge and confesse vnto thee my many and manifolde infirmities wretchednesses and wickednesses both in the sinnes of my body and also in the sinnes of my soule Now a long time O Lord I haue bin grieuously teÌ„ptead with the spirits not of infirmitie only which dwell in my flesh but with foule filthy spirits of pride ambition enuie worldly pollicie other vile vaine deceitfulnes of mine own heart and oft times with lothsom and vgly spirits of lust adultry gluttony druÌ„kenes wantonesse many other such like euills which haunt me daily eyther in thought word or deed and seeke to harâ—our in my polluted flesh giuing me no rest nor respite but are still seeking and daily assayling to ruinate and run ouer me and are dayly fighting and troubling me I haue sinned O Lord I haue sinned I haue done euil in thy fight and these euills are punishments vnto mee for the same It is I Oh Lord it is I and it seemeth to me that it is none but I that euer sinned so hainously against thee I seeme to my selfe of all others to be the most miserable most distressed and most wretched creature on the earth What shall I doe O Creator of heauen and of earth Thou preseruer of mankinde whether shal I flye from these vgly Monsters that thus pursue my soule and daylie seeke to preuaile against me I know not where to be safe from them but onely to flye vnto thee Oh Lord who onely canst still the raging and the roaring of the great waters when they arise and swell who onely canst chaine the Diuell when hee is â—rampant and ready to deuoure and who onely canst cast out the vncleane spirite with a worde that they neuer enter any more Now therefore come I to thee O King of Saints shewing to thee my malady my misery my moâ—rning how I lye here among the graues of the deade and torment my selfe being possessed with the rage and hell of my misdeedes and crie after thee O sonne of Dauid haue mercy vpon mee and deliuer mee by the power of thy might by thy stretched out arme and by one touch of thy sacred goodnesse that it may dispossesse Sathan the strong man of his hold that it may heale me and cast out the vncleane spirites and may vtterly abandon sinne shame and Sathan farre from me and from my dwellings Take from mee for Christ his sake mine owne wretched spirit of infidelitie pride mallice and vnconstancie and grant vnto me O Lord in steed thereof thy blessed spirit of truth humilitie charitie and perseuering constancy Oh take from me O Lord mine owne spirit of vncleanenesse couetousnesse flouthfulnesse and bestow vpon me in steed thereof thine holy spirit of purenesse liberalitie and of all carefull and Christian circumspection Take from me deare Father mine owne spirit of crookednesse wherwith I haue beene vexed and bowed together for many yeares and grant mee thy Spirit of power to raise me vp and thy strength that I may resist sinne in these dayes of my combating that I may so resolutely deuoute my selfe to theâ— and to thy sacred seruice that I may neuer more hearken to subtill and enticing spirits of pleasure of errors of impietie O sacred spirit that didst moue vpon the waters in the creation of the world now moue the streames and fountains of my life in my regeneration and new birth Shake the very foundations of my soule that the image of Christ Iesus may bee repayred in me which I vile wretch by my sinnes haue miserably deformed and defaced O blessed spirit help mine infirmities heale my imperfections compassionate my miseries and make intercession for me with sighes vnutterable which will haue no nay That I may feele my selfe comforted by thee the spirit of consolation in all the wayes of godlinesse that I may perceiue my selfe to bee led on into all truth and veritie and may at the last assure mine owne spirit by thy blessed testimony that I am a child of thy gratious adoption O blessed Iesus that wast declared mightely to be the son of God by the powerfull spirit of sanctification and by rising from the dead that didst vanquish vtterly abandon all the powers all the houres of darkenesse and spirits of error and misbeleefe remoue farre from mee all heathenish Pagan and Popish idolatrie all confidence in any creature all flattering of mine own-selfe that the pure light of thy reuealed truth may shine into my heart that I may euer worship thee in spirit and truth as thou hast commanded And O God make my life holy innocent modest and honest in thy sight that I may see my heart repayred and renued by thy spirit of grace to walke before thee in godly and sincere integritie of conuersation all the remainder of my wretched dayes So am I assured Sathan shall neuer circumuent me nor the world deceiue me or mine owne flesh intice mee or enforce me from thy holy and sacred directions but if I fall I shall rise againe if I turne away at any time I shall returne againe So shall I euer magnifie thy name and multiplie prayses vnto thy maiestie and ascribe vnto thee honor and praise all my life long Grant these mercies vnto me O father of comfort and power for thy couenants sake made vnto mankinde in the iustification of thy Sonne Christ Iesus both for the sanctitie of his life for the suffering of his death and for the continuall intercession and mediation of his eternall priesthood hee now sitting at thy right hand for vs in Maiâ—stie and great glory and remaining a Priest for euer after the order of Mâ—lchisedech Behold vs wretches O holy Ghost whose soules cleaue vnto the ground quicken vs with thy might and lift vs vp from the grossenesse of our corruption to our spirituall beeing in Iesus Christ that wee may liue in the spirit loue in the spirit pray in the spirit and bee led thereby continually into all good actions being thereby purged and purified both in our spirits soules and bodyes from all dead and damnable workes of the flesh the world and the diuell That so at the last wee may through thy fauour O God bee perfectly vnited vnto thee in the spirit of sanctification in this life and in the euerlasting spirit of thy power be brought to our glorification in the other life through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen GOD SEENE of Angels Explication THis Manifestation of God in the flesh and iustification in the Spirit was so apparant and the glory thereof so great that it filled heauen and earth with the brightnesse of
sayest but lot vs all heare what the Lord sayeth and let that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bee our religious Ephod to put vpon vs. Let them speake that haue liued in contentious striuings if in all that time they were not betweene the hammer and the Anuelle in eminent perill of beeing dashed into peeces and haue been at last constrayned for releefe to creepe into houses and there ledde captiue seely women laden with sinnes and carried with diuers lusts which are euer learning and neuer could attaine the knowledge of the truth Consider therefore Brethren what hath beene said and God giue vnto vs vnderstanding in all things that concerne our saluation and Gods peace Commâ—ne with your owne heart whether the motiues that stirre you vp to contentions and strifes waigh more then these directions of Gods Spirit But looke that you pâ—ize them by the measures of the Sanctuarie Light of God Sight of Faith Charitie Construction not by Faction Singularity Preiudice for doubtlesse whatsoeuer our heauâ—ly Father hath not planted shall bee râ—oted vp Thus onely seeking hereby to procure the peace of mens Consciences that they may with cleare sight behold this mystery of Godlinesse and endeauouring the quiet of the Church that euery holy one may possesse his soule in patience I shall euer pray to God where euer I am that the peace of God may bee euer vpon the Israel of God Yours much obliged in the Lord Iesus William Loe. Errata sic corrigantur Pag. 21. lin 26. for Tearchers reade Teachers Pag. 48 in the mar â—eade 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ibidem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ibid. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pa. 50. 1. 25. for iuslice reade iustice pag. 59. ma. reade 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pag. 82. lin 11. into which I had falne pag 86. lin 1. for Manifested reade was iustified pag. 114. in the mar r. Ex. se. pag. 126. in the mar reade 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ibidem for speraâ—e reade spirare p. 152 line 21. for assist r. assist vs. page 178. l. 25 for would read could pag. 184. li. 10. for hae reade hee page 116 for expecting read expect page 206. l. 26 for Chrst ienioyned readâ— Christ enioyned Great is the Mystery of Godlines 1 Tim. 13. 16. EXPLICATION GReat is the misery of mankind both by originall attainder mâ— being conceiued bred and borne in sinne and also by actuall transgressions of thought word and deed whereby man becommeth more and more euery day the miserable bondslaue of Sathâ—â— A figure of this wofull estate was represented vnto vs in the twofold bondage of Gods Children the people of Israel the one in the slauery of Egypt the other in the captiuity of Babylon Into the first the Israelites were plunged in the persâ— of their Ancestors in whose loynes they discended into Egypt were thereby subiected to the crueltie of Pharaohs tyranny and needed a deliuery to rid them thence Into the second their own actuall fresh bleeding sinnes cast them for thereby they prouoked God to wrath who in his iust iudgement deliuered them to the rage and force of their enemies who led them away Captiue and in that wretched estate had they remayned if they had not also from them beene graciously deliuered Semblable was the wofull estate of Mankind had not Iesus Christ the eternall Son of God deliuered vs both from the one and the other This deliuerance of Mankind from out this wofull and lamentable condition whereunto wee were plunged in the loines of Adam originally and by our owne sinnes actually is the greatest mysterie that euer the world knew and is therefore called the Great mysterie of Godlines For wee beeing now deliuered by the life and death of Christ Iesus from this originall attainder of high treason and by holy grace purchased by the power of his Passion Resurrection and ascension beeing restored to our bloud and freed from the rule raigne and rage of sinne this great misery of mankind is turned into a great mysterie of Godlines and wee once wretches and miserable miscreants are now become good godly and a choice company of holy ones This mystery theâ—efore is called the mysterie of Gods will for it is Gods will wee should bee good This is the will of God euen your Sanctification Sometimes it is called the mysterie of faith as the meanes of becomming good for our hearts are purified by faith otherwise it is a mistie and misled faith that bringeth not forth goodnes And here it is called the Great Mysterie as the ende of our godly profession which is the greatest blessing that euer could come to man which is our Vnion with God in Christ and thereby life euerlâ—sting And assuredly this Vnion with Christ can neuer bee obtained but by godlines without the which no man shall see God Great then is this mystery for the Reuelation of this openeth vnto vs all other mysteries and therefore it is Great It sheweth vnto vs the mystery of the great Whore the mysterie of iniquitie euen the historie of the Papacie as noble and memorable Philip Morney stiles it which misguideth so many thousand soules and plungeth them into the misery of error and vngodlinesse euen into the deepe darkenesse of Sathan lewdnesse of life and finall despaire in death It sheweth also vnto vs the mystery of the last day which is that Wee shall not all dye but wee shall bee all changed and that in a moment in the twinckling of an eye by Gods last trumpet Godlinesse then is a mysterie yea surely for it is an hidden and vnknowne secret to the wise and prudent that is to those that thinke themselues wise and are not and it is a reuealed known mysterie to babes and sucklings that is to those that as little children subiect and submit themselues to the wise and learned in God For he that wil be somwhat with God must be nothing in him self for He that thinketh himselfe somewhat when he is nothing he deceiueth himselfe Godlinesse is a mysterie because it hath beene hid with God from the worlds foundation who they are that in time should be godly and should come to the true knowledge of this mysterie And it is a mysterie because it was not made knowne to some ages of the world in full reuelation but was reserued for the glory and greatnesse thereof vnto the last times euen vntill the reuelation of Iesus that the Sonne of God whose pretious bloudshedding hath made so many holy ones in the sight of God the Father And lastly it is a mysterie for that it is euen yet hid in Gods iust iudgement to them that are lost in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them that beleeue not lâ—st the light of the glorious Gospell of Christ who is the image of God should shine vnto them This sacred mysterie is also called Great both in respect of the matter
of my soule in musing on this so holyâ— and so happy a mysterie which I doe adore in the retirednesse of my spirit continually and the fire of thy zeale O Lord encreaseth in my heartâ— and the flames thereof bursts forth and I crie to thee O King of heauen and of earth that thy goodnesse would vouchsafe me a blessing among thine holy ones in whose flesh thou art manifested by the power of thy spirit of sanctification and other graces of thy goodnesse For O my God I haue perceiued sinne and Sathan a long time to haue ruled and raigned in my flesh In my heart by auersenes from thee in my vnderstanding by misled iudgments in my wit by wayward purposes froward desires in my fancie by foolish imaginations designes and my thoghts by rebellious affections in mine eyes by adulterous wanderings in mine eares by itching after vanities in my forhead as in the whores brow by impudent outfacings in my mouth by blasphemous swearings and curses and in my whole masse of nature by lewde and loose conditions Now therefore I come vnto thee O Sauiour of mankind the Phisition of soule and body and lie groueling in mine owne dust before thy footestoole humbly praying thy goodnesse for thy Christ his sake that thou wouldest vouchsafe to manifest thy selfe by thine almighty power in my flesh in my wretched flesh in my rebellious and rotten flesh in mine haughty naughty and hellish flesh That it may by thy thy power become a vessell of holinesse of puritie of grace and of glory To this blessed ende mortifie in me O Lord the deedes of the flesh adulterie fornication vncleanesse laciuiousnesse Idolatrie witchcraft hatred variance emulation wrath strife sedition heresies enuyings murders drunkennesse reuellings and sucâ—h like and in stead thereof manifest in me O God thy selfe by bestowing vpon me a principall portion of thy Spirit in loue ioy peace long suffering gentlenesse goodnesse faith meckenesse temperance and what else thy holy wisedome knowes fit for me in my vocation and ranke Restraine sinne that it may not raigne in my mortall body and Sathan that hee may not rage ouer me Set vp thy selfe O God aboue the heauens and thy glory aboue all the earth That thy beloued in whom thou art manifested by thy graâ—ious spirit of sanctification may euer praise and magnifie thy Great name amiddest the Congregatigations And I the vnworthyest of all thy creatures shall euer bee telling of thy goodnesse towards me for redeeming me with thy bloud for sanctifying mee by thy grace for vniting thy selfe mystically vnto mee thine humbled Votarie and for sauing mee from those many and manifold euills of the flesh whereinto thousands are faine also had not thy gratious assistance O Lord vpheld my weake and feeble flesh â—N Lord there hath no sinne beene committed since Adams fall vnto this day by any the sonnes and daughters of men but I had done the like if thy sweete fauour in Iesus Christ had not preuented mee O Lord then let mee liue in thee let mee wholly resigne my selfe vnto thee that neither sinne nor Sathan nor shame nor confusion may come neere my dwelling but that thou mayest dwell in mee here by thine owne spirite of holinesse that hereafter I may obtain the happinesse of thy glorious kingdome through Iesus Christ mine onely Lord and Sauiour Amen GOD IVSTIFIed in the Spirit Explication GOD manifested in the Spirit not as man iustified whose sinnes are remitted for Christ his sake whose vnrighteousnesse is couered with Christ his merits whose wretchednesse is not imputed for Christ his obedience as Saint Augustine diuinely discanteth vpon the 32 Psalme but iustified in the spirit by diuine iustice such as is properly to God only In which sence his iudgements are sayde to bee iustified that is they are true and righteous al together albeit to vs they are secret and vnsearchable His wisedome is sayde to bee iustified of her children that is it is knowne to bee true and infallible wisdome In this phrase spake Dauid to God saying That thou mightest bee iustified when thou speakest and cleare when thou iudgest That is that no liuing creature could taxe implead or touch the resolutions and performances of Gods decrees with any the least preiudice or impeachment of iniquitie for they were euer most iust and sacred albeit they are vnknowne to vs Is there any vnrighteousnesse with God sayeth Paul In this phrase also Saint Peter vrgeth the Iewes that they had denyed The holy one and inst and desired a murtherer to be giuen them The manner of this Iustification was in the spirit that is to say Hee was iustified in that which was in his sacred person diuine and aboue the humane nature So S. Paul teacheth the Church of Rome affirming that albeit hee was the sonne of Dauid according to the flesh yet was hee declared to bee the Sonne of God with power according to the Spirit of sanctification by the resurrection from the dead which seemeth vnto mee to intend two arguments to this purpose The first is that neuer any in our flesh liued spotlesse and voide of sinne but Christ onely There is the iustifying Spirite of Sanctification The second is that neuer any of himselfe but Christ Iesus loosed the bandes of death and arose from the fetters of the graue There is the Iustifying Spirite of power in the Resurrection and euen in this very phrase Athanasins speaketh to witte That Christ was iustified not after the manner of men but by diuine puritie To this end that he should bee honoured and worshipped not as a meere man albeit hee was truly man but as the eternall God in our flesh This therefore is the Catholique Faith which whosoeuer doth not beleeue cannot bee saued That Iesus Christ is knowne by his power in the spirite to be the very son of God against the Maâ—cionites Gods sonne by nature not by grace against the Arrians that hee was begotten of the Father against the Bonosians that froÌ„ euerlasting against the Natiuitarians that hee was God of himselfe against the Donatists and that hee was coequall with the Father and consubstantiall against the Macedoans This Iustification of the Sonne of God was declared in the spirit of power and in the spirite of purity as I haue sayde out of Saint Paul to the Romanes In the power of the Spirit it was declared against al the powers of darkenesse which flesh and bloud could not abandon For besides the generall cessation of Oracles at his comming the particular Idols were euery where defaced and confounded Astorah of the Sydonians Melchom of the Ammonites Chemosh of the Moabites Belzebub of Ekron Remphan of the Sirians Dagon of the Philistines Moloch of the Egyptians and many others were in all places of the world put to vtter confusion Because the God of this world which is the diuell was cast out and the stroÌ„ger man surprised the strong man dispossessed him dispoiled him and vtterly
vanquished him Insomuch that the very diuels cry Torment vs not before our time and aske leaue to goe euen into sordid swine Thus was he iustified in the power of the Spirite in â—anquishing the powers of darkenes His Iustification was also declared by the spirit of power against his enemies as appeared by the fower Herods Asâ—alonita Archelaus Antipas and Agrippa who being Tyrants and persecutors of Christ in his infancy and of some of his followers there appeared vppon them the strong hand of God that brought them to pittifull and lamentable confusions But most notably and most notoriously the Iustification of the same God Christ Iesus our Lord in the Spirit of power appeareth most euidently euen at this day to the viewe of the whole christian world in his continued iudgements vpon the whole nation of the Iewes who were subuerted and vtterly ouerthrowne by the Romans at the very time of the yeare wherein they crucified Christ which was about Easter For at that very time of their great festiuity the Romanâ—s came and besieged Hierusalem And as from Mount Oliuet they appreheÌ„ded Christ so from that Mouâ—t was their City entered and surprised And as they hurried the Lord Iesus from Pilate to Herod so they were hurried vp and downe during the siege from Iohn to Simeon and from Simeon to Iohn two notable villaines that did mutinize within the City to their vnspeakeable torment vexation and vtter subuersion And as they whipped the Lord of Life and attired him in despicable maner in contempt and scorne Euen so they were whipped vp and downe the holy City in great villany and reproach by the Romane souldiers And as the Lord Iesus was solde for thirty peeces of siluer by Iudas a Iew euen so thirty of the Iewes in the sacking of the City were solde for one peece of siluer by the Souldiers And euen yet the hand of Gods power to iustifie his sonnes innocency is not shortned but stretched out against them still The holy bloud of Christ crying against them and against their children as they themselues desired for vengeance They liuing as a forlorne and scattered people vpon the surface of the earth without Priest or Prophet King or Scepter comfort or compassion In a word tell me who did euer striue against the Messias and did prosper or band himselfe against Christ or Christian and was not confounded Christ was also iustified by the spirit of sanctifying puritie beeing pure and spotlesse in himselfe both in body and soule for there was not any guile in him and also pure in his redeemed people effectually In himselfe pure his conception pure by the holy Ghost his birth pure of a Virgin his life pure both in word and deed in life and death pure for hee offended not no not so much as in his tongue and he is perfect that so offendeth not In his redeemed people pure by the effects of the same iustifying spirite For whereas all the whole world else is set vpon wickednesse hunting eyther with profite as with a bloud-hound or else beeing befooled or besotted with pleasures as theyr Helena these two beeing as it were the two Poles wheron the whole world else is turned the spirite of Christ hath wrought in those that are his â—uch a measure of sanctification that they minde and breath nothing but Heauen and heauenly things If it thuÌ„der that say they is the voyce of our heauenly Father If they cast their eyes to those visible heauens there say they is the curtaine or base court of our inheritance among the Saâ—nts If they heare musicke Oh say they what harmony do the Angels make in Heauen If they behold the earth and the glory therof they say If God haue prouided such a place of pleasure for vs on earth in this our prison What glory is that hee hath layde vp for vs in heauen In all occurrences of their life they sauour nothing but of God and goodnesse In a Word they liue not but Christ liueth in them For this is indeed the true beeing of Christians wholy to giue ouer themselues to bee guided by Gods holy iustifying Spirite Their life is to liue in the Spirite their passages are to walke in the spirite If they resolue their station is in the spirite If they bee deuoute They pray in the Spirite Al their whole seruice of God is to Worship him in spirit and truth Otherwise those that haue not this spirite that is are not guided thereby are none of his For as in the creation of the World The spirite of God moued vpon the waters So certainely now in the Regeneration and new birth of the Christian World the Spirite of God moueth vpon the affections of our harts to turn the riuers in the south that is to turne the streame of our actions and courses of our life to the Ocean the liuing God For hee hath made vs for him selfe and therefore our hearts are neuer quiet vntill wee returne vnto the Lord our God againe When Christ therefore speaketh hee speaketh by the spirit to the Churches for the Scripture sayth Let him that hath an eare to heare heare what the spirite sayth to the Churches The Comforter also of Gods Church is the spirite which is Gods gift vnto his and doth Witnesse with the spirite That wee are the sonnnes of God There is the certainty of the subiect of our Faith The spirite doth make intercession for vs with sighes vnutterable There is the breath of our prayers and doth helpe our infirmities There is the stay and pillar of all our happinesse The first Adam being a liuing soule but the second Adam a quickning spirite For they are quickned in whom this blessed spirite dwelleth both toward God in the spirite of faith and holy vnion and in the spirite of zeale being rauished for the hope of Heauen as appeared in the blessed Martyres and also quickned towardes others in the spirite of charity keeping the vnity of the spirite in the bonde of peace in the spirit of meekenesse and placabilitie being easie to bee entreated for Christs sake Quickened in themselues in the Spirit of sanctification purging themselues for their assured hope of Heauen and in the spirit of sinceritie Doing iustly in all their actions with all men To this purpose the earnest of the Spirit is giuen the Elect euen in this life neuer to be taken away but to bee made vp for that is the 〈◊〉 of an earnest and the pledge of the spirite as an hostage to secure them the seale of the promise to sanctifie them and the spirit it selfe being the Doctor of trueth to leade them into all truth that their sensuall part may bee guided by right reason theyr reason ordered by faith and their faith illuminated sanctified and ledde on by the Spirite of God Indeede to them that seeke not after God this directioÌ„ of his most holy spirite is hateful and the reason is very plaine
Euen because this sacred spirite of the eternall God Rebuketh the world of sinne of righteousnes and of iudgement It rebuketh the world of sinne because the wicked world beleeueth not which is the Sinne of Sinnes as I may so say but is fraught with furious spirits of blind ignorāce and desperatefolly which cast thousands into fires and waters of misperswasion and misbeleefe and these worldlings are caught away with vnpure spirites of sensuall security which possesse them both with dumbnes deafenesse that they can neyther speake of God but in their blasphemous cursinges and swearings nor heare of God without great wearisomnesse and discontent This sacred spirite also rebuketh the world of righteousnesse because sayeth Christ I goe the right way vnto the Father but the world is ledde by witte worshippes will worships and other such deuises of singularity conceited righteousnesse of mans many inuentions Some with Anabaptisme which is the diuell in an Angell of light and some with Iesuitisme which is a subtil slie Antichrist in the Church And this holy spirit rebuketh the world of Iudgement because the Prince of this world is iudged already and the vnbeleeuers his vassalls and slaues are iudged with him and are reserued for the further iudgement and vtter darkenesse of these vnpure spirites that are already in chaines to be brought forth in the great audite of Christ and end of the world For what deuoute soule trembleth not yea shuddereth not with horror to know that Sathan is the God of this world and to conceiue that seuen spirites of euil yea Legions of vncleane spirites may obsesse possesse and hellifie the soule and bodie of one man or of one woman I wonder that the whole frame and fabrique of nature shaketh and quaketh not to beare and heare those hellish and diuelish miscreants that when the seruants of GOD preach solemnely soberly seriously in the power zeale and abundance of their spirit say to them as Festus sayd to Paul This man is beside himselfe much learning makes him mad and say to others as the Iewes to the Apostles when they had receyued the gift of the holy spirit These men are drunke with wine or else take vpon them in the diuelish and damnable pride of their owne hearts to direct the whole world in the misperswasion of their own singular and priuate spirite not in order to God as they pretend but in confusion to the diuell as the ende shewes So did Iohn of Leidon Nipper Doling Chreiton and others of that crew of wretched miscreants who at Munster in their enraged and rebellious route cryed out being led by a cursed spirite of their owne nothing but Depose kill murther meaning those sober and moderate Christians that withstoode their brainesicke fury and Anabaptisticall fanaticall folly and in all that outrage pretended nothing but that they were guided thereunto by the spirite So doe those that are engaged into the spirite of Antichrist and enraged with the poysoned cup of the strūpet of Romish Babylon her spiritual fornication who speak write and practise prepensed wickednesse as did Cardinal Como to Parrie the traytor what time hee intended nay receyued their consecrated host with the saide Cardinall to kill our late Queene Elizabeth of pretious memorie signifying by letter vnto him that the then Pope Gregorie the thirteenth as by the Credentiall note included in the letter he might see doubted not but that the same spirite which moued him to so good a worke as to kill the Queene would certainely assist him to the performance thereof Oh barbarous spirite of brutish Popery So do those that scoffe at the gifts of the Spirite in their brethren saying to those whom they see reuearing and yeelding obedience to the power of Gods grace and counselling others to be guided gouerned thereby Oh Sir you are so full of the spirite that it runs out of your nose Oh sir the spirite moueth you This and the like hellish language I say is an amazement vnto good men to thinke there should be any fo damnably prophane and so desperately wicked especially among Christians who professe in their holy Creede to beleeue in the holy spirite and acknowledge that in the power of that spirit They liue moue and haue their being yea and they feele themselues oft times quickned from the dulnesse of sinne by the same spirit vnto the motion and life of grace wherby they are made vnexcusable And professe further that they beleeue that they shall bee raysed vppe out of their dust and from the bands and fetters of the graue by the operation of this powerfull and blessed spirite vnto eternall glory by that mighty working whereby it is able to subdue all things vnto it selfe This I say is a great consternation and amazement vnto a Christian heart and causeth oft times many good soules to quake and shudder to see and behold such desperate scornings and reprochful contumelies among such as professe they beleeue in God The serious consideration whereof I am perswaded would eftsoones trouble the mindes of many other with grieuous distractions and disturbances had not the holy booke of God in two most pregnant places of the new Testament set foorth to the life both of the Apostacie of faith and irregularity of good manners which the spirit of God prophesyeth should happen in these last and worst ages of the world For Saint Paul teacheth the Bishoppe of Ephesus That the spirite speaketh euidently That in the latter times some shall depart from the faith and shall giue heede to spirites of error and doctrines of Diuels The spirites of error are such in whome there is no sound trueth of GOD but mingled and mangled with humane traditions no conscience of good but iustifyings of their owne inuentions The doctrines of diuels are prohibitions of marriage and superstitious abstaining from meates as the Text speaketh And I take those spirits of errors and doctrines of diuels are no where to be foūd in the Christian Church more pregnant for we must not looke for them among Turkes and Pagans because this Prophesie reuealeth what shall happen in the Church and amongst professors of Christ but in the Papacy only which in the later times that is some sixe hundred yeares agoe or thereaboutes vtterly fell away from the verity of the faith of Christ and gaue heede to the spirites of errors doctrines of diuels intending nothing else thereby but the subuersion of the Primitiue purity of Religion and conuersion of the internall beauty of the Church of Christ into an externall and pompous lustre of humane policie And againe Saint Paul sheweth by the euidence of the same spirite That in the last dayes which are these worst dayes of ours should come perillous times wherein men should bee louers of themselues couetous boasters proud cursed speakers disobedient to parents vnthankefull vnholy without naturall affections truce breakers false accusers intemperate fierce no louers at all of
them that are good traytors beady high minded louers of pleasure more then of God hauing a shew of Godlinesse but haue denied the power thereof from which Saint Paul counselleth to turne away These Men and Brethren These I say are the faithlesse and fruitlesse spirites of vanity the dissolute children of disobedience and cloudes without water who despite the spirite of grace Quench the light of the Gospell and know not whether there bee an holy Ghost or no. But Men and Brethren Hearken whosoeuer offendeth of infirmity offendeth against God the Father who is power and strength and whosoeuer offendeth of ignorance sinneth against God the Sonne who is wisedome and these finnes are pardonable but who so sinneth against the Holy Ghost the spirite of truth and charity his sinnes are irremisible Let him therefore that hath an eare heare what the Spirite sayth vnto the Churches For the Spirites of the Prophets are subiect to the Prophetes Bee men neuer so profoundly learned or so well conceyted of themselues Christ Iesus who was our Reconciliation on earth by his Incarnation Life and Passion is now our Aduocation in heauen at the right hand of God the Father by his continual Mediation and is our dayly Comforter as Saint Bernard speaketh by mouing stirring and inclining our harts to beleeue and our wils and consciences to the obedience of faith and to the endeauour care and study of all sacred duties Are not they then in a most desperate and wofull estate and condition thinke you who despise and despite this Reconciliation Aduocation Mediation Consolation of Gods spirit who continue in that sinne for which there is neyther sacrifice noâ— oblation to bee offered that can doe them or theirs any good who resist the Spirite of Christ albeit it stand at the dore of their hearts and consciences and craue for entrance who grieue the spirite of God by their vile and beastlie liuing and quench out the light thereof by their ouer-flowings of malitiousnesse which otherwise would shine and glitter like the sparkles of a diamond in the middest of our naughtie Natures and in a word who haue in them no gifte grace condition qualitie sparke or resemblance of Gods spirite whatsoeuer they may brag and boast thereof out of their owne deceiueable seemings but only this that their goodnesse so Anabaptistically are they besotted cannot be seen as the holy Ghost is inuisible And no lesse lamentable are the cauils of those which obiect That the Iesuites whom wee so vilifie boast also that they are led by the spirite as if most damnable heretiques did not make the same plea but the practise of the Nobles of Baroa is a satisfactory answere for that and all other cauils of that frie for they searched the Scriptures To see whether or no the thinges were so that they heard the Apostles preach but the spirite of Iesuitisme dare not abide that triall nor any other like spirit of error Another saith there bee so manie that vaunte of the spirit that I knowe not which I should adhere vnto but Saint Paul giueth a rule for that Neuerthelesse saith he wherevnto wee haue already attained Let vs march by the same rule which is the sacred Scriptures that wee may minde the same thing This plainely sheweth vs that we must adhere to none for our direction to God but such as adhere to Gods Oracle the Sacred scriptures and are guided thereby Yea but another vrgeth further and saith wee see that those that professe themselues to bee guided by the Scriptures and by the spirit thereof doe differ What then All men haue not Faith albeit in number and profession they be of the Church as S. Austine speaketh hence it is that they cannot accord For what communion hath light with darknesâ— or Faith with infidelitie Yea euen amongst them that haue Faith some haue a greater and some a lesser portion thereof according to their knowledge by Gods dispensation hence it is oft times that they cannot accord in all things at all times for there is a procession from faith to faith yet all may holde the Fundamentall grounds and principles in blessed diuinitie albeit they differ in some particulars because some haue already attained to that measure of grace which anotherâ— may attaine vnto in some time after This therefore is an infallâ—ble rule of S. Iohn We are of God hee that knoweth God heareth vs Hee that is not of God heareth not vs Hereby knowe we theâ— spirite of Error and the spirite of Truth That is as S. Augustine expounds it If any man take vppon him to expound the scriptures albeit it bee euen by himselfe with inuocation of GOD who assists by his holie spirite and the spiritual man discerneth all things the internall vnction directing him in all things and leading him into all truth To this man wee are bound to hearken and his doctrine to embrace albeit thousands gaine say it as the Councell of Nice hearkened to Paphnutius being but one man against the whole route and rabble of Pseudo Catholiques But if any man vndertake to doe it of himselfe of his owne priuate and singular spirite without warrant and directioÌ„ of Gods spirit which counselleth and guideth by the word onely It is the Spiders webbe the Cockatrice egge the fome of the sea the fume of the bottomlesse pitte wee may vndoubtedly disauow it and defie it I conclude then that this foundation standeth firme sound and may satisfie the soule of any beleeuer to wit that God is manifested in the flesh by beeing baptized as man Iustified in the Spirite by forgiuing sinnes as God Manifested in the flesh by being tempted as man Iustified in the spirite as God by ouercomming for vs the world the flesh and the Diuell Manifested in the flesh by beeing hungry as man Iustified in the spirite as God by feeding thousands aboundaÌ„tly with a very small pittance Manifested in the flesh by enduring thirst as man Iustified in the spirite as God by calling those that are thirstie vnto the waters of Life that they might neuer thirst any more Manifested in the flesh by praying as man Iustified in the spirite by hearing the prayers of others as God Manifested in the flesh by weeping as man Iustified in the spirite by wiping all teares fâ—om our eyes as our God Manifested in the flesh by being sold for thirty peeces of siluer as a man Iustified in the Spirite as God by redeeming the world with his bloud a price pricelesse peerelesse Mâ—nifested in the flesh beeing led as a sheepe to the slaughter as man Iustified in the spirite by triumphing ouer death and hell and by leading captiuity captiue as Godâ— Manifested in the flesh by dying as man Iustified in the spirit as God by rising againe from the dead by ascending into heauen by sitting at the right hand of the Father whence we expecting him to come againe in the end of the world with Maiestie and
a thousand sorrows to euery good beleeuing heart to conceyue that albeit God in his aboundant mercies hath thus reuealed himselfe vnto vs in the manifestation of our flesh among vs by the power of this Almighty spirite aboue vs and by the testimony of Angels about vs yet there should bee of them that professe Christianity such as are worse then the Sect of the Saduces for the Sadduces yet acknowledge that Angels were the good motions stirred vp in vs but these neither acknowledge God good motions nor diuels but are copartners with the Diuell against Michael and his Angels and are become Combatants against Christ and his Christians Hath not Sathan thinke you sifted such to the bran and winnowed such to the chaffe by his damned motions that he hath made them good for nothing and left in them nothing but the dregs and remnants of himselfe as namely the eagernesse and greedy desire of hauing and the cursed sins of despite and malice for they haue taken the Diuell at his word when he shewed them the Worlde and the glory therof and said vnto them All this will I giue you they immediately fall downe and worship him Or else shew themselues to be of the diuels pedegree by the grosnes of lying by the fulnes of impurity by the subtilty of sorcery or as was sayde by the mischiefe of helsish malice All which dregs of the diuel hide the sonne of God from those children of disobedience and nothing remaineth for theÌ„ except they repent but the fearefull sentence of Depart from mee yee cursed into hell fire prepared for the Diuel and his Angels Whereas if the sonnes of meÌ„ would consider but what losses they sustaine hereby me thinkes it should recall euery good mind but of an ordinary vnderstanding to a far better dispositioÌ„ For we Christians lose by such wickednesse the honour of beeing such euill Angels Iudges Why doe not yee know that we shall iudge the Angels that is doe ye not know that we shall be assessors with Christ in the day of iudgment and condemne the diuell and his angels We lose the sight of Christs mysticall body in the glory of his Saints Which the Angels of heauen desired to behold We loose the victorious triumph of Gods Saints for shortly Sathan shall bee beate downe vnder our feet Let vs then rayse vppe our selues to his glorious assotiation of the Angels in our seruice of God knowing that there are more with vs then against vs and that our Lord Christ Iesus shal appeare in the end of the world with this holy Angels in Maiesty and great glory to iudge all mankind And I adiure you before Iesus Christ and his Elect Angels that yee diligently and duely consider these things For yee are not come vnto the mount which might not bee touched and that burned with fire nor vnto blacknes and darknesse and tempest and the sound of a trumpet and the voyce of words which voyce they that heard entreated that the Word should not bee spoken vnto them any more But yee are come vnto Mount Sion and vnto the City of the liuing God the heauenly Ierusalem and to aninnumerable company of Angels and to the generall assemblie and Church of the first borne which are written in heauen and to God the iudge of all and to the spirites of iust men made perfect and to Iesus the Mediator of the New Testâ—ment and to the bloud of sprinck lings which speaketh better thinges then that of Abell Oh blessed Lord let mee see thy face for thy face Lord will I seeke Incomparably blessed are those sacred Spirtes O holy heauenly Father who euer attend thy glorious Maiesty and stand before thee â—ight day to behold and see thee in thy displaied glory They are in the fulnesse of ioy and at thy right hand where are blessings for euermore They are euer delighted with the sight of thinâ— vnsearchable wisedome of thine vnutterable glory and vnspeakable mercy They are free from the assaults of sinne or Sathan for no euill commeth neere thy dwelling O miserable wretches that wee are on earth subiect to Sathans slâ—ights the fleshes frailety and the worlds wickednesse Debarred are we from thy glorious light O King of Heauen and shut vp hâ—â—e in the darkenes of our own ignorance and lye in the very shadow of death Restrained are wee from the ioyfull fruition of the companie of those stiall attendants the Angels Saints that euer doe thee seruice without ceasing O blessed Lord how happy were wee the miserable inhabitants of thy footstoole if thou wouldest vouchsafe vs that fauour for Christ his sake as to deliuer vs out of the prison of this body out of the fetters of sinne and out of the snares of the Diuell that wee might serue thee without feare in thy Court of Heauen continually Consider good Father our miserie and forasmuch as in Christ Iesus thou hast giuen vs a light of thy selfe in the mirror of thy mercy and mystery of Christian godlinesse Leaue vs not comfortlesse but grant vs for his passion sake a glympse of thee euen in this Life while wee are here that our soules may be rauished with holy desires and neuer be satisfied vntill we come vnto thee our God to enioy thy selfe in glorious maiestie To this blessed end Oh tender hearted Father arme vs with helpe from heauen in all the occasions of our life For thou knowest O Lord that wee war not against flesh and bloud onely which are intestine and home-bred enemies but against principalities powers and spirites of errors and darkenesse in high places Thou knowest O Lord that they are many mighty and malitious Thou knowest our frailety our feeblenesse and our folly Helpe vs then deare Father out of all the temptations and snares of the diuell Let thy guard of good Angels and holy ones stand with vs to assist staÌ„d ouer vs to protect vs giue theÌ„ a charge O Lord to keepe vs in all our wayes Let them stand at our right hand to guide vs for the best Let them goe before vs dayly with thy preuenting mercy as they did before the hoast of thy Israel Let them comfort vs in the good as they did thy Iosuah Let them supplie our wants if neede require as they did thy Eliah Let them deliuer vs out of prison as they did thy Peter saue vs in shipwracke as they did thy Paul Let them alwayes be ayding vnto vs in our sicknesse and in all the weakenesse and temptations thereof yea in the last breath of our life and aâ—ter death Let them traÌ„sport vs into Abrahams boâ—ome as they did thy Lazerâ—â— And graunt vnto vs O Father for Christs sake this grace that while wee liue here we may endeauour to do thy blessed will as the angels doe in heauen That wee may euer â—praise thee for thy goodnesse sing vnto thee for thy mercies magnifie thee for thy graces and multiplie
to approach neere vnto God and the full perswasion of faith to die in that so wee may goe on from faith to faith vntill wee haue our perfect blisse in Christ for euer Albeit our condition be that wee liue in these last and worst times as Lot in Sodome and as Abraham in Vr of the Chaldes yet hauing the rocke of our faith in Heauen the Father determining the word directing the holy Ghost mouing and these 3. are one hauing the records of our faith on earth the Spirit witnessing to our Spirite that wee are the sonnes of God the water of Baptisme the seale of our Redemption in Christ the bloud of the holy Martyres as the signes of the power of faith in weakenesse and these three aâ—gree in one wee may bid defiance to the Diuell and quiet our conscience in Christ for euermore Concluding that wee can be iustified no other way in the sight of God but onely by this holy faith in the bloud of Iesus but beeing there by onceiustified wee are in direct order towardes God wee are through the gate and in the happie way that leadeth to Abrahams bosom euen eternall life For God can direct vs in the best way vnto himself that leadeth to euerlastiâ—g felicitie in turning vs from â—ur euill wayes and returâ—ing vs to himselfe by reâ—entance and so on to good workes the assurance to our â—elues of our election in CHRIST from good workes to Gods mercy and â—rom thence to glory whereâ—nto this faith teacheth vs â—hat CHRIST is already â—ntered and whether hee â—ill vndoubtedly bring all â—hat loue him that looke â—nd long for his comming â— consummate and perfect â—is our holy seruice in the Heauens where is the fulnes â—f ioy and happinesse in the presence of God for euermore O Lord I beleeue helpe my vnbeleefe and encrease my Christian faith WOnderfull art thou O Lord God in thy manifold works maruellous in thy Almighty power and vnsearchable in thy diuine secretes The goodly frame of heauen and of earth shew shy power the disposition of all things therein tell of thy great wisedome and the passages of so many millions of particulars point out this gracious prouidence in all and yet the workes of thy mercies surpasseth all this For which O heauenly Father wee magnifie and praise thy name and multiplie our thankefulnesse vnto the in Iesus Christ from day to day For it hath pleased thee good Father to elect vnto thy selfe and to call â—ut of this Worlde out of this world I say beeing â— sincke of sinnefulnesse a deepe â—den of despayre an Asphatites of â—ll filthinesse a dead sea of sensuâ—lity the vale of the children of Hinnon a Babylon of beast linesse a Sodome of sorrow a Gomorrah of vngodlinesse a Seboim of security an Adamah of Adulterie and a world of wickednesse to chose I say one of this route a remnant of people to bee thy beloued Spouse and wife of the Lambe to bee a royall Priesthood an holy Nation a peculiar people the loue of Christ all faire vndefiled and without spotte the onely Doue to bee like an Orchard inclosed a well sealed vp a fountaine of liuing water a Paradise of all pretious delectable and desirable fruites and to be the mysticall body of Christ which hee doth quicken with his owne spirite And these heauenly Father thou hast sealed with thine owne fignet dignified with thine owne fauours and as it were diâ—sied by thine effectuall and sauing grace in giuing them the holy faith of thy Christ and our Iesus thine onely sonne and our Sauior to purifie their hearts to purge their consciences from dead workes to serue thee the Father of light and life and so to be blessed by thee with light and life euerlasting O Lord now behold mee poore silly wretch that lyes here beneath in this miserable world creeping in the dust and crawling in mine owne infirmities My soule cleaueth vnto the ground my belly vnto the earth I haue nothing in mee but sinne sensuality aâ—d shame Blind I am in mine owne vnderstanding for I know thee not obstinat in my will for I little â— regarde thy Counsels corrupted in mine affections for I haue no minde vnto thee My parents were of this world I am borne in the world and the world is all my silly selfe looketh after I cannot attaine to so much at to know my selfe how then shuld I know and discerne thinges aboue my selfe much lesse vnderstand the things that appertaine vnto thee O Father and to the glory of thy Kingdome Euery good and perfect gift commeth feom thee who art the Father of lights O bowe downe thy goodnesse then vnto mee most mercifull Father and extend thy bounty vnto me poore wretch that most humbly desires thy grace and fauour that thou wouldest bee pleased to giue mee a portion and measure of thy blessings in the faith and fauour of thy sonne Grant vnto mee faith O Lord without the which I cannot please thee without the which I cannot hope for any good nor haue any euidence of these things which are not yet euident without the which I cannot come to Christ nor doe any good works nor bee raysed from sinne nor know thee O God nor resist the Diuell nor ouercome the world nor be iustified nor bee saued O blessed Father grant this mercy vnto mee without the which I desire not to be without which I cannot bee but a Cimmerian wretch a stranger vnto thee an Atheist a profane person an Infidell a cast away and a Firebrand of Hell What prayse can bee to thee O Lord in the deepe in the land of obliuion in the place of the damned Shall the dead praise thee shall the bottomlesse pitte celebrate thee shall the damned sing vnto thee no no The beleeuing the repenting the sorrowfull soule for sinne whome thou shalt shine vpon with the light of thy countenance in the faith of Christ that soule O God that soule shall euer bee magnifying thy mercies extolling thy goodnesse and celebrating thy greatnesse fro age to age What euer I doe what euer I thinke what euer I say without it hee seasoned with this grace of faith it is sinne O blessed plant of Paradise O heauenly Iewell of incomparable valuation Deare Father bestowe this blessing vpon me shut not vp my life with vnbeleeuers which shall neuer see thy face but rectifie me in al parts to the right vse of the sacred meanes of obtayning this fauour of faith It commeth by hearing of thy Word O sanctifie mee throughout that I may attentiuely hearken what the Lord will say For hee will speake peace vnto my soule and loue to his Saintes that they returne not to folly O holy Lord Looke backe vpon mine humbled Suite signe my petition for thy tender mercies sake in Christ. So shall my Sacrifices bee alwayes acceptable vnto thee as Abels my conuersation holy as Enochs my preaching powerfull as Noahs my offeringes delectable as Abrahams so shall I contemne
hold faste our profession For wee haue not an high Priest that cannot bee touched with our infirmities but was in all partes tempted like as wee are without sinne And albeit wee reade that Moses and Samuel Noah Daniel and Iob those holy men were not powerfull to preuayle with God in some cases for others yet no where can it bee found that our Lord Iesus Christ had euer the repulse for his chosen For hee is the Sonne in â—hom the Father is well â—leased Let the curious questioner come hither and if hee aske How is Christ with vs vnto the end of the world as he promised if he be receiued vp in glory I answer that hee who Was before Abraham is with vs by his grace and power of his holy spirit that liue in the faith of Abraham His departure hence into heauen beeing for our exceeding great Comfort and benefite For where should an aduocate bee but before the Iudge pleading his Clyents cause where should a Captaine bee but fighting with the enemies without the Citie And the father of a great family doth not alwayes reside at home but trauelleth into a farre country about his affayres to prouide for his houshold So Christ himselfe testifies That vnlesse he depart the Comforter should not come Not vnlike the glorious sunne of the firmament which when it is furthest from vs in locall distance it is neerest vnto vs in power and effect as appeareth in the Summer season For then the beames of the Sunne are more pâ—ercing albeit it bee further of because then they are direct and perpendicular which in the Winter though the body of the Sunne bee neerer yet the rayes thereof are oblique and aside Semblably the bodyly presence of Christ on earth wrought not so effectually in his Apostles and other the faithfull as his holy spirit did after his departure which hee powred out on them in great measure as hee promised for then were their hearts throughly resolued their willes fully purposed and their zeales feruently onflamed Yea let the most Seraphicall and most Cherubicall soules that liue come hither and see what the Angels of heauen admire at who beholding Christ Iesus ascending with this glorious conquest of his redeemed church say but by way of admiration Who is shee that looketh foorth as the Morning bright as the Sunne pure as the Moone terrible as an Armie with ensignes Nay blessed soules to which of the Angels sayde God at any time as hee doth to our Lord Christ Emanuell thou art my sonne And againe I will bee thy Father and thou shalt bee my Sonne yea the Angels are commanded to adore him and the son is bid to sit down at the right hand of the Father in the glory of heauen Lastly lâ—t the simple and honest soule come hither and learne not to seeke Christ on earth in a Wafer Cake as the Popelings doe but as the Apostle counselleth in heauen saying If you bee risen with Christ seeke those things that are aboue where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God and where hee must bee vntill the times of the restitution of all things which God hath spoken by the mouth of his holy Prophets since the world beganne Set therefore your mindes on heauen and heauenly things and not on earth and earthly things Heauen is now opened enter thou into the holy of holyest for thou art O my soule past the vtter and inner Court Thy Mediator is in heauen pray thou here in earth that hee may heare in heauen and speake for thee Our â— flesh is in heauen in the person of Christ whereby wee see that the glory wee haue won by Christ is greater then the disgrace and curse that the malice of the diuell brought vpon vs by Adam The diuels maliceâ— and our sinne cast vs out of Paradice but Christs loue and sufferings for sinne makes vs sit in heauenly places with him In a word our triumph is in heauen who would not fight the battaile manfully against the flesh the world and the diuell being assured by the captaine of the victorie Wee may also hence perceiue how God tenderly and louingly dealeth with vs euen as Moses sayth hee dealt with his owne people the Israelites And how was that euen as the Eagle sayth hee doth with her young The Eagle couereth her young with her winges so God doth with the winges of his safe protection She sometimes perceiuing her young ones dull and drooping gently peckes them with her becke to stirre them vppe so God by afflictions doth quicken his children yea sometimes the Eagle taketh away her young ones meate and flyeth vp into the ayre to entice and prouoke them to practise and endeuour to soare on high-euen so God the Father hath receiued vp Christ Iesus our heauenly Manna into glory that wee should learne to aspyre and soare vpwards that where hee is there wee might bee also And to this ende the two Angells tolde vs at his receiuing vppe into this glory that hee should in the same manner descend to iudgement in the ende of the world which wee expâ—ct with patience nay long and looke for and crye in our hearts Comâ— Lord Iesus Come quickly and wee doe nothing more seriously while wee are on earth but call to minde in holy meditations the Lords death and shew it to the eyes of our faith vntill his comming againe in partaking of his blessed body bloud in the Sacrament that by the power thereof wee may bee established that we turne not this great grace into wantonnesse nor neglect our Lord Iesus who is thus exalted into the highest glory not for himselfe for he had that glorie before the world was but for vs his redeemed people so that now here is the exaltation and supereminent height of faith euen euerlasting life The Being whereof is called Glorie and our Estate there Glorification To this doe all the goldly aspire that they may bee where Christ Iesus is to beholde his Maiesty and his glory in the Kingdome of GOD the father The Metropolis of which Kingdome is the Heauen of the blessed the Confines are Eternity the chaire of Estate is the thrones the houses of the Courtiers are the visions of Angels and Saints God is there as the King Christ as the Prince the Church as the Queene the Virgines as the Handmaides the Nobles are the Patriarkes and Prophetes the Notaries are Euangelists the Prelates are the Doctors of the Church the Souldiers are Martyres and the Subiects are all the blessed In which Kingdome are all things to bee desired Desire you riches Glorie riches are in his house Desire you gold The Citie it selfe is of pure gold Desire you honour O God such honor as this glorie haue all thy saints Desire you pleasures At Gods right hand are pleasures for euermore Desire you knowledge In Christ are al the treasures of wisedom and knowledge Desire you Libertie Ierusalem which is aboue is free Loue
to consume thee no tempest to affright thee no colde â—o molest thee no heate to offend no plague to kill thee no calamity to afflict thee O Christian soules endeauour to ascend to your Christ Iesus vnto and into this glorie and bee not discouraged eyther with the long distance from you or with the maruellous height aboue you For with as much faciâ—itie as the Diuels were deâ—ected from Heauen in Gods â—ispleasure you shall be lifted â—p to Heauen by the fauour of Christ. The hand of the Lorde of Hostes that cast them out â—nto the bottomlesse pitte â—hall bee stretched foorth to â—eceyue you vp into glorie â—nd that in a moment in the winckling of an eye Oh how amiable are our goings towardes the Lorde of Hostes Sanctuarie in the progresse of diuine vertues Humility doth lift vs vp aboue the earth Pouertie in Spirite aboue the water Contrition aboue the ayre Good workes aboue the fire Faith Hope Loue Discretion Constancie Temperance Righteousnesse aduanceth vs aboue the seuen Planets our conuersation aboue the Emperiall Heauens Purity of heart dooth bring vs vp to the sight of God and vnto the glory of the blessed For three places God hath appointed hâ—â— Children to liue in the Wombe this Earth the Heauens In the wombe in a narrow place for a short time some nine monethes In the earth a place of greater extent and a longer season some seauentie yeares And lastly in Heauen a place of extent without limit and for terme without time euen for euer and euer And as the second place farre exceedeth the first both in largenesse of Extent and in continuance of time so the third place of our most happie being incomparably surpasseth the second in both for it is without limmit of locall scite and without all determinatioÌ„ of time for length of dayes O Christ come vnto vs and into vs with these thy graces that wee may come to thee and into that glory where thou ruâ—est and raignest with God the Father and the Holy spirite for euermore O Lord lift vp mine heart vnto theâ— O Eternall God and most mercifull Father in Christ Iesus who dwellest in the thrones of immortality and blisse vouchsafe to looke vpon vs thy humbled Creatures that lye here beneath and groane to bee deliuered from the bondage of our corruption into the freedome of thy goodnesse Thou hast taken vp from vs our Lord Iesus and hast set him at thy right hand in Maieâ—ty and great glorie O when shall wee come â—nd behold the beautie of thine â—ouse and the blessednesse of thy Saintes Lâ—sten Lord vnto our supâ—lications and for our Aduocates â—ake that pleades our cause beâ—ore thee in heauen Let vs be dissolued that we â—ay bee with thee and with our â—eloued Iesus Who for vs men â—â—me downe from Heauen and â—as humbled to deâ—th that wee might liue with thee for euer Behold O Lord God how wee runne after him in the sweet sauour of his diuine perfumes WheÌ„ hee liued here with vs on earth he disdayned not Matâ—eâ— a publican hee abandoned not Peter a denyer of him nor cast away Paule a perâ—ecutor nor despised Marie Magdalen a courtezan nor refused to hear a Cananaatish woman the blinde the lame the dumbe the deafe yea the possessed with diuels hee had compassion vpon Therefore now wee wretches here beneath albeit our conâ—â—tion is farre worse then any of those yet wee conceiue comfort that now in his glorified estate he will also grant vs his pittie and compassion and by the power of his grace whereby hee is able to subdue all things vnto himselfe will conquer our stubborn and disobedient hearts and makâ— them plyable and conformableâ— to his sacred Lawes That we may not reason in our vnderstanding nor enclineâ— our affections downewards but as he is receiued vp in glory so we may set our selues and soules to seeke and search after him in all heauenly things O Lord the dead prayse thee not they that goe downe into the pit doe not remember thee what benefit is there in our blood what glory is there to thee in the land of obliuion where thou art not once thoght vpon O God let the deuouring and despayring gulfe bee the portion for the diuels and the damned that neuer seeke thee in thy beloued Let that vale be for the children of Hinnon that bottomlesse pit for the Locusts that lake of brimstone for thy Christs enemies that second death for the desperate that weeping and wayling for the heathen that hath not knowne thee that hell for the dâ—spisers of thy Sonnâ— that euerlasting fire for the Abaddon and his seruants but as for those that sue for fauour vnto thee and lye at thy mercy gate for grace and beg but the crums let them be deliuered because of thy beloued let them reioyce on thy saluation let them see the sight of thy saints and bee glad with the light of thy countenance for euer O speake comfortably vnto their soules and let their hearts euermore reioyce before thee Oh tender hearted Father giue them a tast in this life of the happinesse of the other and a glimpse of that glory wheâ— into Christ Iesus is receiued That so our hearts may bee enflamed our wills enclined our affections setled and our whole selues knit vnto thee that neither sinne nor Sathan life nor death things present nor things to come may separate vs from the loue and exceeding thirst and desire of beeing where Christ our treasure is Let not the diuell with any of his subtill and slie delusions carrie vs downeward in tempting vs with our vnworthinesse our euill our wretchednesse in putting into our mindes that we are predestinate and ordayned of old to destruction and that whatsoeuer we do â—r say or pray it auailes not for â—t cannot alter thy decree and so â—y this meanes cast vs into desâ—erate carelessenesse But O Lord â—each our soules to reason and â—ommune with our owne hearts 〈◊〉 going vpwards where Christ â—esus is receiued vp in glory that â—e beleeuing and louing thee our God liuing in thy grace calling â—pon thee dayly may worke out â—ur saluation with feare and â—embling And do thou O God ascertain â—ur conscience that these things â—re the actions and affections of â—ose that are ordayned to blisse â—â—d life euerlasting in the merits of thy deare Sonne Christ Iesus our Lord. To this blessed purpose assist vs O God in all the occurrences of our life at home and abroade in businesse and in leasure in prosperitie and aduersitie in sickenesse and in health that we may still haue our minds lift vppe vnto thee through the power of our Prince of peace Christ Iesus and euer vse these things of this life to further our saluation in him that at the last when wee shall come 〈◊〉 our fatall and finall dissolution iâ— this world the way of all flesh we may bee receiued vp by thy goodnesse and ministerie of thy blessed Angels into those